{"id":829183,"date":"2025-06-25T12:21:36","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T10:21:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=829183"},"modified":"2025-06-25T12:21:42","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T10:21:42","slug":"south-africas-airports-deteriorating-in-plain-sight-leaving-some-planes-flying-blind","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/government\/829183\/south-africas-airports-deteriorating-in-plain-sight-leaving-some-planes-flying-blind\/","title":{"rendered":"South Africa\u2019s airports deteriorating in plain sight \u2013 leaving some planes flying blind"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

South Africa\u2019s airline industry is facing a growing crisis, with failing navigation systems and deteriorating airport infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is forcing airlines in the country to cancel or delay flights, often at enormous cost to the airlines themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is according to Aaron Munetsi, CEO of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA), who said the situation is fast becoming unsustainable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association represents 17 African airlines, including Airlink, FlySafair, and South African Airways, and has 40 associate members, including Boeing and Airbus, the world’s largest aircraft manufacturers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking to the Money Show<\/strong><\/a>, Munetsi outlined various issues, including delays and cancellations that stem from dysfunction within the country\u2019s air traffic navigation services.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been having several challenges with both the operations at our airports and from the aviation navigation services provider,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A key problem is with the country\u2019s Instrument Flight Procedures, which he described as the \u201croad map\u201d that guides pilots between airports. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Munetsi pointed out that the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) must validate and approve these procedures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When this doesn\u2019t happen, \u201cwe then have a problem because there are some operations that cannot be carried out,\u201d he explained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year, City Press reported<\/a> that critical services faced management and capacity issues, which had impacted operations at the King Phalo and George airports.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This included malfunctioning of the Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), which had impacted low-visibility landings and pilots’ inability to land aircraft at night or during cloudy, misty, or rainy weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, airlines are often forced to cancel or combine flights, creating frustration for passengers and financial strain for operators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Airlines hung out to dry<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Aaron Munetsi, CEO of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Airports themselves are also falling short. Munetsi said basic procedures such as Standard Instrument Departures and Terminal Arrival Routings are poorly managed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This leads to congestion on the ground, with long queues of aircraft waiting to take off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe end up with those delays now having a knock-on effect, not only on the cost to airlines, but also on turnaround times and other scheduled routes,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen an aircraft does not take off and is idling, it is burning fuel.\u201d This ripple effect hits profitability hard. \u201cWhen routes are delayed, passengers are inconvenienced,\u201d Munetsi said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added that airlines have to meet their commitments. In the case of a cancellation and no alternative, the duty of care says that we must look after the passenger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEither by putting them on another airline, or if there\u2019s no other flight, put them up in a hotel. That all comes to us as airlines. That\u2019s our responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What makes this even more frustrating for the airlines, Munetsi argued, is the lack of accountability from service providers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf airlines don\u2019t pay their dues, they are grounded without even a chance to negotiate,\u201d he said. “But when they don\u2019t provide the service, or provide a bad one, we still have to pay.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He stressed that airlines are being forced to pay service providers that do not provide the services they’re paying for, while simultaneously spending even more to ensure passenger safety and satisfaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Munetsi highlighted that even basic airport facilities remain in disrepair. Walkways shut down during the COVID-19 lockdowns have not yet been reopened or maintained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was a valid business decision to shut them down during lockdown. But once we started opening up, we would have expected a gradual reopening, even if they are technically complicated,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He noted that these facilities should have been part of a phased return to full operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAirlines pay for these facilities. Even passengers pay airport service charges and are not getting what they\u2019re paying for. Airlines are not getting what we are paying for.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Munetsi added that another issue is that the complaints from frustrated passengers often fall on the airlines themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He warned that the current situation is unsustainable, a \u201cdouble whammy\u201d for airlines paying for services they aren\u2019t receiving and footing the bill when things go wrong.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With critical infrastructure neglected and regulatory delays mounting, South Africa\u2019s aviation sector is flying blind, and the financial turbulence may only worsen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some improvements are coming<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While not fully addressing key infrastructure complaints by the airlines, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) is undergoing a significant infrastructure maintenance and capital expansion programme across its airports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ACSA is the owner of nine of South Africa\u2019s largest airports, which include the OR Tambo, Cape Town and King Shaka International Airports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the group, the maintenance programme has prioritised high-impact infrastructure, such as sewerage systems, ablution facilities, and fire escapes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The current projects are scheduled for completion between late 2025 and 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Airports in South Africa getting upgrades to make them cleaner, safer and more comfortable<\/a><\/blockquote>