New runway opens at Lanseria
As Gauteng's only privately owned international airport, the ongoing investments they have made will ensure that they remain a world-class facility.
Lanseria International Airport opened their new runway on 11 November.
The new three-kilometre-long and 45-metres-wide runway means that larger passenger and cargo aircraft will be able to use the airport.
The new runway project, that took just over a year to complete and cost roughly around R150 million, is just one of the many improvements made to the international airport to accommodate its impressive growth. It also will be the first airport to have the advanced-required navigation performance flight procedure (A-RNP), which will be implemented in the first quarter of 2014.
“Ongoing improvements and new facilities will ensure the longevity of the airport. The entire customer experience has been enriched,” says Gavin Sayce, CEO at Lanseria International Airport.
“We constantly are upgrading and extending facilities as our business grows,” he adds.
As Gauteng’s only privately owned international airport, the ongoing investments they have made will ensure that they remain a world-class facility.
The airport has a strong focus on passengers and the time they spend at the airport, and have rolled out various customer-friendly enhancements. Some of these include being able to offer shorter check-in times, self-service kiosks, quick baggage collection, ample parking and fast drop-n-go facilities. The recently extended spacious airport building has new restaurants and retailers and a one-of-a-kind viewing deck that overlooks the runway.
Lanseria International Airport is now the fourth busiest airport in South Africa, and with the new runway now fully operational, airport customers and pilots can enjoy the many features of Johannesburg’s alternative airport.
Interesting facts about the new runway:
• The runway has full-night operations with 24-hour apron services and advanced navigation aids that include: Doppler VOR (DVOR), non-directional beacon (NDB), and distance measuring equipment (DME). A new instrument landing systems (ILS) will be commissioned in the first quarter of 2014.
• New generation global navigation satellite system (GNSS) approaches to allow for enhanced access even when terrestrial infrastructure may fail.
• The airport has received accolades from ICAO, the International Civil Aviation Organisation recently as the A-RNP will allow for high-access levels despite surface wind conditions.
• Kulula.com was awarded the honour of being the first aircraft to land on the new runway as it opened. Their routes include Cape Town and Durban. Mango also offers flights to and from Cape Town.
