South Africa Airports Focus on Getting VT Up and Running

Airports in South Africa are focusing on getting vertical-transportation (VT) equipment — elevators, escalators and moving walks — up and running for the upcoming holidays after several factors resulted in their falling into disrepair, Business Insider South Africa reports. A drop in travel associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, layoffs and mothballing of infrastructure including VT led to complaints about the condition of the facilities, particularly O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Operator Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) says it is working to replenish staff after approximately 40% of employees took voluntary severance packages, and, starting on December 1, will ramp up its SummerUp campaign to improve the passenger experience by providing well-functioning VT. Airlines Association of Southern Africa CEO Aaron Munetsi says he is confident that ACSA will fulfill its promise that airports will be able to “handle the traffic they are anticipating in the next three to four months.”