Important info on the big DIA to KSIA switchover
Important info on the big DIA to KSIA switchover - a month to go from tomorrow - and that's no April Fool's joke!
On The Move – From Durban International to King Shaka International Airport from April to May 2010
Wednesday, March 31,
31ST MARCH 2010 – one month to go!
As we get close to opening the new King Shaka International Airport (KSIA) on Saturday 1st May 2010 Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has been fielding many questions from you the public. We do know that you are excited to see this state of the art multi billion rand project but we would like to tell you about some critical information that you the public needs to know. This information will also be issued via radio and print media from now till the opening of King Shaka International Airport.
This historic move will require the co-operation and understanding from the public to assist the airport to ensure the move can be conducted. It is true that this is a huge task that is being undertaken by ACSA and we are appealing to the flying and general public to do all that is possible to make the transition as smooth as ever.
HOW WILL THE MOVE AFFECT YOU
The move from the old DIA to the new KSIA will certainly have certain teething problems and ACSA is very conscious and is doing all that is possible to plan properly. Part of the plan is to minimise the disruption, confusion, inconvenience and problems to the public as we switch over to the new airport. The move cannot be conducted successfully without the assistance, co-operation and tolerance of the public and airport users.
Close the last week of April 2010 there will be some activity on the public roads when we commence moving some heavy and airport related equipment from DIA to KSIA. To do this successfully and minimise inconvenience we will be working closely with the city and Metro Police to conduct these activities. We plan for this to occur during quieter times of the day so that it does not impact too adversely with the public.
At this stage the anticipation towards the move is gaining major momentum and to ensure we have a seamless switch over on 30th April to 1st May 2010, ACSA would like to ensure that you are kept updated on the move. We believe that the media, travel agents, airlines and the public in general have a role to play to ensure a smooth transition to KSIA. At the same time we would like to assure the public that the service levels at DIA while we prepare to move will be maintained to ensure service excellence which will continue at KSIA.
Please note that all KSIA information will be applicable from 1st May 2010:
KING SHAKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
AIRPORT OPERATING HOURS
05h00 to 22h00 seven days a week
ACSA Administration
08h00 to 16h30 Monday to Friday
ACSA Permit Office
08h00 to 16h00 Monday to Friday
IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS
ACSA information (airport) 032-436-6585
Flight information 086-727-7888
Switch Board number: 032-436-6000
Parking Management: 032 436 6626
South African Police Service 032 436 6868
Metered Taxis 032 436 6035
ROAD NETWORK
The airport activity will generate traffic on its roads to and from most areas and it is envisaged that since most people will be using vehicles to gain access to the airport the main access to the airport will be via the N2 Interchange that will lead to and from KSIA. The landside road system at KSIA will serve different categories of traffic, made up of passenger vehicles, airport taxis, limousine services, charter/tour buses, delivery trucks, airline crew buses, etc. The southbound carriageway to the N2 will be tolled by the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL).
PICK-UP AND DROP-OFF AREAS
The pick-up areas are situated at grade, alongside the piazza, with separate provision for private vehicles and public transport. The drop-off area is situated on the elevated roadway, outside the Departures Hall at the passenger terminal building. The Metro Police will monitor utilization of the drop-off area to ensure that it is not used as a parking area.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Public transport facilities have been provided within the precinct and cater for both bus and accredited public transport service providers (i.e. metered taxis, tour buses/shuttles, coaches and staff shuttles)
PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION
Pedestrian movement within the development area is catered for through the provision of sidewalks where significant numbers of pedestrians are anticipated. A conscious effort has been made to minimize conflict between pedestrians and vehicles through the development of a ‘pedestrian sensitive’ traffic routing plan. Where conflicts are large and unavoidable, grade separation of vehicle and pedestrian movements has been provided to segregate buses and taxi traffic from private vehicle traffic to increase capacity.
COME EARLY
Due to the fact that it is a new airport ACSA believes that users will need to familiarise themselves with the facility. We are appealing to users to come at least an hour and a half before for a domestic departure flight out of Durban so that they have adequate time to get through traffic and conduct all airport activities when at the airport.
We are also encouraging airport users to come at least two hours and a half before for an international flight out of Durban on Emirates and Mauritius who fly directly out of Durban.
1Help AGENTS
To assist passengers and it being a brand new facility ACSA will have iHelp Agents placed strategically within the airport who will assist you with information, directions and hand out useful leaflets from 1st May 2010. Please look out for them as they will have dressed in a t/shirt that will say,” HOW CAN I HELP YOU”.
CAR RENTALS
Avis
Budget
Europcar
Tempest
1st Car/Sixt
Hertz
Easy Hire
Capital
PARKING ZONES AND BAYS
Open parking (shaded) 3 000
Multi-storey parkade 1 540
Accredited Metered taxi bays 25
Coach/bus bays 10
Staff parking (shaded) 820
Bus staging 20
Car rental 750
Elevated road 50
AIRLINES AT KSIA
Domestic
1time airline
BA Comair
Kulula Air
Interlink Airlines
mango airlines
SA Airlink
SA Express
South African Airways
International
Emirates Airlines
Air Mauritius
OPERATIONAL READINESS AND AIRPORT RELOCATION PROGRAM
The Operational Readiness and Airport Relocation (ORAT) program is well in advance and works in tandem to the construction program. The teams working on ORAT have been working through the various work streams to ensure the airport, facilities and services are 100% ready to operate the airport on 1st May 2010. Part of the ORAT is the familiarization and trial operations programs that the team had to ensure were completed before the opening of the airport. These programs are well underway and will be completed by 22nd April 2010.
SWITCH OVER FROM DIA TO KSIA
WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON 30th April 2010
The flights scheduled for 30th April 2010 will be facilitated as normal until the last flight. Once the last passengers have been facilitated out of Durban International Airport (DIA) the aircraft, that usually stay overnight and depart the next morning, will be ferried empty that same night to KSIA to prepare for the 1st flight on 1st May 2010 from KSIA.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON 1st May 2010
The 1st flight departing and landing will be facilitated at King Shaka International Airport. With 1st May 2010 being a relatively quiet operational day at the airport, ACSA maintains that all areas of service and facilitation will be in place to accommodate passengers and airport users.
MY CAR WAS LEFT AT DIA BEFORE 30th April 2010
All vehicles that will be parked between the last week of April over to the 1st week of May 2010 due to unforeseen circumstances, will remain at the DIA site. When the owners arrive back at KSIA during the 1st week of May, they will be shuttled from KSIA to DIA for their vehicles. They will need to show their parking ticket as proof and will be assisted by the Parking staff when they arrive at KSIA
COST FOR SHUTTLES
As we understand that it will be a reality that some cars will be parked over the switchover period and ACSA will cover the cost of shuttling airport users affected only for from 1st May to 6th May 2010.
GET A LIFT
We are encouraging all airport users to look at alternative transport arrangement from 26th to 30th April 2010 as we would like to minimise the number of vehicles left in the public car parks during the switch over period of 30th April and 1st May 2010.
RETURNING A RENTAL CAR
If you hired a rental car before the switchover you will have to return that car at KSIA. When you come back to KSIA to return your rental car you will see the signage for “car rental returns” that will lead you to the car rental.
GENERAL
FUTURE OF DIA SITE
After the last flight out of DIA, the airport will cease all commercial aviation activity. The facility will be handed over to the SA Air Force (SAAF) for the duration of the soccer world cup and thereafter it will be decommissioned. During the soccer world cup there will be no commercial aviation activity at DIA as it will all be relocated to KSIA from 1st May 2010.
TOLL
The SA Roads Agency (SANRAL) will be developing a toll near the airport when the airport is opened. It will mean that travellers coming to the airport from the south will not pay a toll but will pay a toll when you leave the airport going south on the N2.
STAFF TRANSPORT
Through its research ACSA has established that many of the current staff do reside on the south and central areas around the airport. It is for this reason that ACSA embarked on a process that will allow staff from all companies at DIA who will be relocating to KSIA, an opportunity to transport their staff to their new place of work. ACSA and the airport community is far with negotiations with a transport company that will be responsible for transporting airport staff from the old DIA to KSIA from 1st May 2010 for possibly a year. This is being conducted to ensure that our airport staff are able to report on time for work.
DEDICATED PUBLIC TRANSPORT ROUTES
ACSA is currently negotiating with the eThekwini Municipality regarding dedicated transport routes that will allow airport staff to use dedicated routes and possibly dedicated public transport to and from KSIA.
DISTANCES FROM DIA TO KSIA
The approximate distance from DIA to KSIA is about 60kms and the distance from the city centre to KSIA is about 35kms. This will give users an idea to plan their trip to KSIA.
ROAD SIGNAGE
The process to replace the road signage to KSIA has commenced and soon the public will see the new signs for directions to KSIA on the national and municipal roads leading to KSIA.
QUERIES AND QUESTIONS
If the public requires more information please go to
www.airports.co.za go to “contact us” or the ACSA switch board on 031 451 6666 till 30th April 2010
http://www.acsa.co.za/home.asp?pid=94&toolid=2&itemid=6740