Johannesburg, 2015-3-3 — /Travel PR News/ — Airports Company South Africa, owner and manager of South Africa’s nine principal airports, and Mitteldeutsche Airport Holding, representing Leipzig/Halle Airport, signed a cooperation agreement during the Air Cargo Africa 2015 Conference and Exhibition.
The partnership, signed by Tebogo Mekgoe, Chief Operating Officer of Airports Company South Africa, and Markus Kopp, Chief Executive Officer of Mitteldeutsche Airport Holding, will expand international air cargo market, elevating Leipzig/Halle Airport and O.R. Tambo International airport’s status in air transportation industry. The strategic partnership will involve the exchange of information and individual expertise along with cooperation in the field of customer acquisition.
The signing of this agreement follows the recent creation of a cargo management division at O.R. Tambo International Airport, affirming Airports Company South Africa’s commitment to implement its cargo strategy.
“This strategic partnership will provide industry-leading guidance in developing the company’s cargo business model and approach,” said Tebogo Mekgoe, COO of Airports Company South Africa.
South Africa’s O.R. Tambo International Airport is the largest Air Cargo hub on the African continent. Its economic stability, combined with a reliable and stable legal framework has contributed to the growth of various industries.
“Given the centrality of air cargo to, especially, the automotive, electronics, telecommunications and perishable industries, an active exchange of experiences and analyses of potential will develop the capacity and reach of both airport management companies,” said Markus Kopp, CEO of Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG.
While Mitteldeutsche Airport Holding has existing cooperation agreements in place with four Asian and two North American airports, today’s agreement with the Airports Company of South Africa marks the first such agreement on the African continent.
Editor’s Notes
Airports Company South Africa
Airports Company South Africa SOC Ltd is the largest airport authority in Africa. With a global footprint spanning three continents Airports Company South Africa provides a professional, world-class service for South Africa’s nine principle airports as well as airports in Mumbai, India and São Paulo, Brazil.
Airports Company South Africa’s airports are responsible for more than 80 percent of South Africa’s commercial air travel, managing over 35 million passengers per year.
In support of Airports Company South Africa’s significant investments in infrastructure, the company has implemented Airport Management Centres (AMCs) throughout its network. AMC’s focus on improving all operational aspects of the mobility value chain.
For the last eight years Airports Company South Africa has managed and operated Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai. The airport processes 29 million passengers per annum and 340,000 tons of cargo. Airports Company South Africa has also developed, manages and operates Guarulhos International Airport in São Paulo, Brazil. Guarulhos is the busiest international airport in Latin America, handling 28 million passengers and 358,000 tons of cargo per annum.
O.R. Tambo International Airport
O.R. Tambo International Airport is arguably the largest and busiest airport in the African continent. The airport is also the biggest cargo airport in Africa with freight at nearly 400,000 tonnes per annum.
Major expansion projects have increased the annual passenger handling capacity at O.R. Tambo International from 6.5 million in 1993 to a current 28 million.
The award-winning airport currently processors over 19 million passengers annually.
A recent Airbus forecast recognises O.R. Tambo International Airport as the only mega city airport in Africa, with more than 50,000 daily long-haul passenger flights carrying cargo in their belly. Forecast to be a reality by 2032.
Mitteldeutsche Airport Holding
Mitteldeutsche Airport Holding is the umbrella brand of Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG, a public sector company. The Group has three subsidiaries: Leipzig/Halle Airport, Dresden International Airport and PortGround.
In 2014 the group handled 93,926 aircraft movements, about four million passengers and more than 910,000 tonnes of freight. The group employs approximately 1000 people with a further 9,478 employed at various companies and public bodies operating at Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG airport sites.
In 2010 Mitteldeutsche Airport Holding, representing Leipzig/Halle Airport, signed a cooperation arrangement with the Shenzhen Airport Group. In 2012 Mitteldeutsche Airport Holding signed a cooperation arrangement with the Shanghai Airport Authority, including Shanghai Pudong International Airport. In 2013 Leipzig/Halle Airport signed cooperation agreements with Memphis International Airport and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, providing closer cooperation in the international air freight market. Since March 2014, Leipzig/Halle Airport has been working with Kansai International Airport in Japan. 2014 also saw Mitteldeutsche Airport Holding link with The Henan Province Airport Group through a strategic airport cooperation arrangement.
Leipzig/Halle Airport
Leipzig/Halle Airport which handles freight volumes exceeding 910,000 tonnes is the fifth largest air cargo hub in Europe. The airport has a 24-hour operating permit for cargo flights and direct links to trans-European motor and railway networks. As such, Leipzig/Halle offers ideal conditions for the intercontinental transport of goods by road and rail. The take-off and landing system has two parallel runways, each 3,600 metres long, which can be used independently in CAT III b conditions. The airport has a modern handling terminal for large animals, the Animal Export Centre, and a veterinary border inspection post. DHL has been operating its European hub at the airport since 2008. Since 2009 Leipzig/Halle Airport has also been the base of Aerologic, a joint venture between DHL Express and Lufthansa Cargo. Cargo flights currently operate from Leipzig/Halle Airport to approximately 60 destinations in more than 30 countries on four continents.
For further information:
Unathi Batyashe-Fillis
Acting Group Communications Manager
Corporate Office
Airports Company South Africa
Phone: 079 882 7307 / 011 723 1410
Email: Unathi.Batyashe-Fillis@airports.co.za Web: www.airports.co.za Mobi: m.airports.co.za
Uwe Schuhart
Head of Media Relations
Mitteldeutsche Airport Holding
Phone: 0049 341 224 1157
Email: uwe.schuhart@mdf-ag.com
Web: www.mdf-ag.com