Date: 20/05/2004
Source: Ministry of Transport
Title: J Radebe: Opening of new terminal at Port Elizabeth Airport
REMARKS BY JEFF RADEBE, MP, MINISTER OF TRANSPORT, AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF PORT ELIZABETH AIRPORT'S NEW TERMINAL, 20 May 2004
Port Elizabeth is rightly known as the Friendly City, and it is always a delight to be here. PE is the gateway to a number of our country's great tourist attractions like the Tsitsikamma and Garden Route, the expanding Addo Elephant Reserve, the magnificent coastal route up towards East London and the Wild Coast, and of course the splendid facilities available in and around the city itself. The PE Airport is most often the first encounter that visitors have with the city. The opening of this new terminal is therefore of great significance to the economy and the tourist potential of the Eastern Cape, and of course to the thousands and thousands of 2010 supporters, players and administrators who will come to PE as a result of our honour as a country to host the Football World Cup!
This fabulous new terminal is further evidence of the great strides Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) is making towards the continuous improvement of our airport infrastructure to meet world-class standards. The infrastructure assists greatly on our ability to extend the best service we can to customers and the public alike in the finest traditions of African hospitality.
Port Elizabeth is one cog in a larger ACSA network that covers some 99% of all our country's airport traffic. Today, some 54 airlines fly into South Africa, up from a mere 18 in 1993. Passenger traffic has also grown in the last ten years, to reach some 23 million currently from 12 million.
Over the past few years ACSA has invested over R3billion to meet the demands of increased traffic and for improved service delivery. Port Elizabeth can today boast its new terminal as the most recent addition to the portfolio of smart, modern and user-friendly facilities that place our airports at the forefront of global excellence.
If you will indulge me and allow me briefly to blow ACSA's trumpet for them... or let me rephrase that in the spirit of our time - let me trumpet ACSA's vuvuzela for a minute! In terms of the Global Airport Benchmarking Programme, Cape Town International Airport was rated 1st and Johannesburg International 5th best international airports serving between 5 and 15 million passengers. Cape Town was also top of the list for overall satisfaction and Johannesburg came in 4th. Cape Town and Johannesburg International were placed 2nd and 4th in the Middle East and African regional ratings. For its part, Durban was declared the runner-up for the second consecutive time in the best small airport category, and was placed 3rd in the Middle East and Africa regional rating. I am quite sure that sooner rather than later we will see Port Elizabeth's Airport challenging the frontrunners!
These results show that ACSA has successfully turned its attention to make South Africa's airports formidable global competitors through infrastructure efficiencies and customer service levels. South Africa links people efficiently with pleasure and business destinations, it also encourages trade and communication around the globe. World-class infrastructure underpins our efforts to drive economic development for all our people.
What does all this mean for Port Elizabeth itself?
I am delighted to report that building this R30million facility has provided the opportunity to spread Government's BEE programme in the Eastern Cape even further than the great strides we have made through the Coega development and other activities. Construction was the responsibility of a joint venture between Alfdav Construction, a 100% BEE firm, and SBT (Pty) Ltd. Alfdav controls 51% of the consortium. The project was also delivered on time and within budget! Well done!
The construction has also contributed in a small way to providing employment to an average of 55 jobs per month over a period of 18 months as well as about 150 indirect jobs. BEE has also found its way into the retail concessions awarded for the food and beverage outlets in the terminal.
But the terminal promises great progress other than the immediate issues I have just mentioned.
The 2010 soccer world cup holds much in store for Port Elizabeth. Besides the construction of the new Port Elizabeth Stadium that is destined to become the sporting capital of the province, a great deal of work will come into the area to upgrade road and rail infrastructure, to improve public transport services, and to boost the host of supporting business enterprise that will add to the comfort and pleasure of residents and visitors alike. In fact, 2010 will build on and allow us to extend some of the infrastructure plans that the Metro and the Province envisage for the region as a whole in terms of their integrated development plans. It is too early to estimate employment benefits that will flow with this additional activity, but it promises to be substantial.
The numbers of arriving and departing passengers moving through PE have increased over the past few years, with just under 1 million people moving through the airport during 2003/04 financial year. This figure represents a 10.3% growth over 2002/03, which itself was larger than the 7.4% growth of that year over 2001/02. Although ACSA projects growth in the region of 3% over the next five years, other figures suggest that a 5-6% growth per annum is more reasonable. One driver of this increased growth is the impact of Coega, a development that is picking up speed as we speak.
I can also just remind you that Port Elizabeth witnessed a mini-boom during the other international rugby and cricket contests when the city played host to a number of matches. I recall that during the Cricket World Cup, we had to provide an additional 22 flights to Port Elizabeth over a four-day period, just to deal with the demand for those matches played here. I can only imagine what we will need to do to cater for the much larger crowds in 2010!
I think we can look forward to a major boost into the city as a result of 2010. But another element creeps into the picture as well when we remember that international experience shows that countries that are honoured to host international competitions like the Olympics or soccer world cups witness massive increases in tourism and business related travel in the years following the events. So, in its planning for 2010, PE and the region as a whole must look beyond 2010 to create opportunities that take advantage of the sporting events themselves. You will need to cater for the millions and millions who will follow in homeboy Danny Jordaan's footsteps as the first 2010 passenger!
Some of you may not be aware that Port Elizabeth Airport enjoys international license status. You will notice that the new terminal provides a combined international section in the domestic arrival and departure terminal. Some minor work still needs to be done to meet all the International Civil Aviation Organisation's requirements for international status, but I can assure you that these improvements will not be delayed. Consideration is also being given to the question of extending the runway and further upgrading to meet surges in demand in the future. I am also happy to mention that we are hard at work to facilitate the entrance of a charter company in the UK, AV8Air, operating under the Club Travel 2000 brand, to bring packaged tourists from Manchester and Dublin to Port Elizabeth. This should be considered just the start of greater things as far as international access to and from PE is concerned.
A key theme of my ministry is the implementation of partnerships. In this regard, we will support initiatives by the Metro here in PE to expand their Infrastructure Development Programme to transform Port Elizabeth into an industrial development zone (IDZ) that stretches from the PE Airport to Coega, and incorporates all the intermodal infrastructure into a core element of the national corridor strategy. In this way, the Metro will be the southern base of a corridor of economic activity that includes the ports of PE and Ngqura, the Airport, the rail and road system.
I understand that plans are afoot to broaden the CBD in Port Elizabeth as well. To accomplish this, attention will have to be paid to rationalizing the fly-over system that currently blocks access between the CBD and the harbour area.
Infrastructure that stands in the way, or is a stumbling block to this development, will probably have to be dismantled and replaced with a system that promotes rather than retards future growth. This will also assist in aligning the Metro's Transport Plan with 2010.
To assist in this complex process, I will soon send a team of officials and transport advisers from my Department to engage the Metro in technical discussions so that we can help you fast track your ambitious plans.
All in all, the prospects are bright. I am truly delighted that Transport and ACSA have been able to play our small part in bringing greater opportunities to this wonderful Province. I can assure you that we will continue to work alongside you every step of the way.
Let me now, by thanking you, declare the New Terminal at Port Elizabeth's Airport officially open!
Issued by Ministry of Transport
20 May 2004
Source: Department of Transport (http://www.transport.gov.za)
Source: Ministry of Transport
Title: J Radebe: Opening of new terminal at Port Elizabeth Airport
REMARKS BY JEFF RADEBE, MP, MINISTER OF TRANSPORT, AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF PORT ELIZABETH AIRPORT'S NEW TERMINAL, 20 May 2004
Port Elizabeth is rightly known as the Friendly City, and it is always a delight to be here. PE is the gateway to a number of our country's great tourist attractions like the Tsitsikamma and Garden Route, the expanding Addo Elephant Reserve, the magnificent coastal route up towards East London and the Wild Coast, and of course the splendid facilities available in and around the city itself. The PE Airport is most often the first encounter that visitors have with the city. The opening of this new terminal is therefore of great significance to the economy and the tourist potential of the Eastern Cape, and of course to the thousands and thousands of 2010 supporters, players and administrators who will come to PE as a result of our honour as a country to host the Football World Cup!
This fabulous new terminal is further evidence of the great strides Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) is making towards the continuous improvement of our airport infrastructure to meet world-class standards. The infrastructure assists greatly on our ability to extend the best service we can to customers and the public alike in the finest traditions of African hospitality.
Port Elizabeth is one cog in a larger ACSA network that covers some 99% of all our country's airport traffic. Today, some 54 airlines fly into South Africa, up from a mere 18 in 1993. Passenger traffic has also grown in the last ten years, to reach some 23 million currently from 12 million.
Over the past few years ACSA has invested over R3billion to meet the demands of increased traffic and for improved service delivery. Port Elizabeth can today boast its new terminal as the most recent addition to the portfolio of smart, modern and user-friendly facilities that place our airports at the forefront of global excellence.
If you will indulge me and allow me briefly to blow ACSA's trumpet for them... or let me rephrase that in the spirit of our time - let me trumpet ACSA's vuvuzela for a minute! In terms of the Global Airport Benchmarking Programme, Cape Town International Airport was rated 1st and Johannesburg International 5th best international airports serving between 5 and 15 million passengers. Cape Town was also top of the list for overall satisfaction and Johannesburg came in 4th. Cape Town and Johannesburg International were placed 2nd and 4th in the Middle East and African regional ratings. For its part, Durban was declared the runner-up for the second consecutive time in the best small airport category, and was placed 3rd in the Middle East and Africa regional rating. I am quite sure that sooner rather than later we will see Port Elizabeth's Airport challenging the frontrunners!
These results show that ACSA has successfully turned its attention to make South Africa's airports formidable global competitors through infrastructure efficiencies and customer service levels. South Africa links people efficiently with pleasure and business destinations, it also encourages trade and communication around the globe. World-class infrastructure underpins our efforts to drive economic development for all our people.
What does all this mean for Port Elizabeth itself?
I am delighted to report that building this R30million facility has provided the opportunity to spread Government's BEE programme in the Eastern Cape even further than the great strides we have made through the Coega development and other activities. Construction was the responsibility of a joint venture between Alfdav Construction, a 100% BEE firm, and SBT (Pty) Ltd. Alfdav controls 51% of the consortium. The project was also delivered on time and within budget! Well done!
The construction has also contributed in a small way to providing employment to an average of 55 jobs per month over a period of 18 months as well as about 150 indirect jobs. BEE has also found its way into the retail concessions awarded for the food and beverage outlets in the terminal.
But the terminal promises great progress other than the immediate issues I have just mentioned.
The 2010 soccer world cup holds much in store for Port Elizabeth. Besides the construction of the new Port Elizabeth Stadium that is destined to become the sporting capital of the province, a great deal of work will come into the area to upgrade road and rail infrastructure, to improve public transport services, and to boost the host of supporting business enterprise that will add to the comfort and pleasure of residents and visitors alike. In fact, 2010 will build on and allow us to extend some of the infrastructure plans that the Metro and the Province envisage for the region as a whole in terms of their integrated development plans. It is too early to estimate employment benefits that will flow with this additional activity, but it promises to be substantial.
The numbers of arriving and departing passengers moving through PE have increased over the past few years, with just under 1 million people moving through the airport during 2003/04 financial year. This figure represents a 10.3% growth over 2002/03, which itself was larger than the 7.4% growth of that year over 2001/02. Although ACSA projects growth in the region of 3% over the next five years, other figures suggest that a 5-6% growth per annum is more reasonable. One driver of this increased growth is the impact of Coega, a development that is picking up speed as we speak.
I can also just remind you that Port Elizabeth witnessed a mini-boom during the other international rugby and cricket contests when the city played host to a number of matches. I recall that during the Cricket World Cup, we had to provide an additional 22 flights to Port Elizabeth over a four-day period, just to deal with the demand for those matches played here. I can only imagine what we will need to do to cater for the much larger crowds in 2010!
I think we can look forward to a major boost into the city as a result of 2010. But another element creeps into the picture as well when we remember that international experience shows that countries that are honoured to host international competitions like the Olympics or soccer world cups witness massive increases in tourism and business related travel in the years following the events. So, in its planning for 2010, PE and the region as a whole must look beyond 2010 to create opportunities that take advantage of the sporting events themselves. You will need to cater for the millions and millions who will follow in homeboy Danny Jordaan's footsteps as the first 2010 passenger!
Some of you may not be aware that Port Elizabeth Airport enjoys international license status. You will notice that the new terminal provides a combined international section in the domestic arrival and departure terminal. Some minor work still needs to be done to meet all the International Civil Aviation Organisation's requirements for international status, but I can assure you that these improvements will not be delayed. Consideration is also being given to the question of extending the runway and further upgrading to meet surges in demand in the future. I am also happy to mention that we are hard at work to facilitate the entrance of a charter company in the UK, AV8Air, operating under the Club Travel 2000 brand, to bring packaged tourists from Manchester and Dublin to Port Elizabeth. This should be considered just the start of greater things as far as international access to and from PE is concerned.
A key theme of my ministry is the implementation of partnerships. In this regard, we will support initiatives by the Metro here in PE to expand their Infrastructure Development Programme to transform Port Elizabeth into an industrial development zone (IDZ) that stretches from the PE Airport to Coega, and incorporates all the intermodal infrastructure into a core element of the national corridor strategy. In this way, the Metro will be the southern base of a corridor of economic activity that includes the ports of PE and Ngqura, the Airport, the rail and road system.
I understand that plans are afoot to broaden the CBD in Port Elizabeth as well. To accomplish this, attention will have to be paid to rationalizing the fly-over system that currently blocks access between the CBD and the harbour area.
Infrastructure that stands in the way, or is a stumbling block to this development, will probably have to be dismantled and replaced with a system that promotes rather than retards future growth. This will also assist in aligning the Metro's Transport Plan with 2010.
To assist in this complex process, I will soon send a team of officials and transport advisers from my Department to engage the Metro in technical discussions so that we can help you fast track your ambitious plans.
All in all, the prospects are bright. I am truly delighted that Transport and ACSA have been able to play our small part in bringing greater opportunities to this wonderful Province. I can assure you that we will continue to work alongside you every step of the way.
Let me now, by thanking you, declare the New Terminal at Port Elizabeth's Airport officially open!
Issued by Ministry of Transport
20 May 2004
Source: Department of Transport (http://www.transport.gov.za)
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