Johannesburg – O.R. Tambo International Airport and Cape Town International Airport have been ranked among the World’s 10 best airports.
Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) on Wednesday said it was, “delighted to note that two of its major airports have made the top 10 list of the world’s best airports according to AirHelp, which has released its 2024 score report ranking the world’s best and worst airports”.
According to the list, Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) secured Second place this year, while O.R. Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) ranked Sixth.
The overall winner was Qatar’s Hamad International Airport.
“We are thrilled to have two of our airports ranked among the top 10 in the world, and we are especially proud that CTIA took the runner-up spot among very fierce competition and ORTIA sixth amongst some of the world’s biggest and best airports,” said ACSA CEO Mpumi Mpofu.
“This recognition goes to show that our hard work is paying off as we endeavour to ensure that our airports offer among the best facilities in the world after the devastating effects of Covid-19 and that travellers can enjoy a seamless experience across our airport network.”
AirHelp is a company that secures compensation for air travellers following delays and cancellations and creates its rankings partially based on the claims it processes globally.
It relies on external sources for tracking on-time performance, customer feedback, and the quality of food and shopping options at 239 airports across the world.
The rankings were compiled from 17 550 airport ratings collected by surveying passengers from 64 countries about their most recently used airports, between 1 May 2023 and 30 April 2024.
Mark Maclean, Regional General Manager of Cape Town International Airport, said airport infrastructure is a key element to running an exceptional airport that distinguishes itself from others on the continent and the rest of the world. “Infrastructure development is crucial,” stated Maclean.
“We’ve meticulously planned our airports, processes, and integrated innovative technology.
“Our infrastructure and systems must be purpose-fit, of impeccable standards, and fully supportive of our objectives.”
However, the most important asset in operating an exceptional airport is its people, which means it is imperative to promote a culture of staff who are motivated and people-centric.
“Above all, exceptional airports are built by exceptional people,” said Maclean.
“Fostering a culture where staff are motivated and customer-centric is key to an airport’s success.
“Effective interaction, collaboration, empathy, and support are of utmost importance in our airport environment.”
Maclean said taking the runner-up spot on AirHelp’s list of best airports was an achievement that ACSA was extremely proud of.
“It shows that we are doing things right and motivates us to do even better,” said Maclean.
“I would like to thank all our staff members and stakeholders for their hard work and dedication that resulted in this recognition.”
Jabulani Khambule, Regional General Manager of O.R. Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), said the backbone of the airport is made up of competent staff, competent partners such as state and law enforcement agencies, airlines, and ground-handling agencies.
“Being ranked the sixth-best airport in the world by AirHelp is a fantastic achievement and reflects the hard work and efforts of all staff and stakeholders involved in running ORTIA,” said Khambule.
“We are very proud of this achievement and will continue to provide exceptional facilities and services to our passengers and customers.
“Everything we do is about seamlessly connecting people to their next opportunity, so it is strategically important to ensure that our equipment and infrastructure is operating optimally to be able to deliver the level of service that we want.”
Khambule describes customer service as non-negotiable, with ORTIA having a very strong focus on customer satisfaction, which we achieve through operational efficiency.
“Those are the things that set us apart from other airports. We are a very focused and strategic airport management company, that is very clear about the things it must chase in order to remain the preferred destination,” said Khambule.
Regarding recovery from the Covid-19 shutdown, Mpofu said ACSA’s strategy has resulted in the growth of passenger volumes and aircraft movements that have, in some cases, exceeded projections.
“Despite the extreme challenges that we faced over the past few years, receiving this recognition highlights our collective ability to overcome adversity and uphold the operational excellence of ACSA,” said Mpofu.
“These achievements mark a moment of immense pride for all of us. To each staff member, who tirelessly contributes to ensuring an outstanding airport experience for every passenger and user, a heartfelt congratulations is in order.
“This marks the beginning of the most successful years to come with the largest capital investment programme since 2010.”
