JOHANNESBURG, 14 December 2018 – Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has signed a sister airports agreement with Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited that will enable the two companies to cooperate and share information.
A memorandum of understanding covering the agreement was signed today in Bangkok creating strategic links between O.R. Tambo International Airport and the Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
The memorandum of understanding was signed by Bongiwe Mbomvu, Acting CEO of Airports Company South Africa and Dr Nitinai Sirismatthakarn, president of Airports of Thailand.
The activities covered by the memorandum of understanding cover exchange of information, joint marketing and promotion, and joint work activities.
The exchange of information will include statistics on traffic and financial data, and best practices in airport development, operation and management. The two companies will also collaborate in marketing and promoting activities aimed at expanding passenger and air cargo traffic between the two airports.
The memorandum of understanding also provides for the two airports to exchange staff to facilitate the mutual learning of best practices.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Ms Mbomvu said: “We are excited by the potential being opened up through this agreement.
“We are proud of the expertise and skills that Airports Company South Africa has developed through projects such as the development of Terminal 3 at Ghana’s Kotoka International Airport and at Brazil’s Guarulhos International Airport ahead of the 2014 World Cup. The company is therefore keen to demonstrate what it has to offer and to learn from our colleagues in Thailand.”
Mbomvu said that Airports Company South Africa continues to benefit from a similar agreement with Munich Airport that was signed in 2015.
“We have gained much through this structured cooperation that enables the parties to identify where and how they can both benefit.
“The airports business worldwide is undergoing rapid transformation to cope not only with growing passenger numbers but also with demands for extremely high levels of digitisation and automation of services. We believe that this agreement will benefit both parties in striving to stay ahead of market trends,” said Mbomvu.
O. R. Tambo International Airport is Africa’s biggest and busiest airport, facilitating more than 21 million passengers a year. Suvarnabhumi International Airport is Thailand’s largest and ranks as number 36 in the world in terms of passenger volumes.
While Airports Company South Africa owns and operates nine airports in South Africa, Airports of Thailand runs six airports.
Said Mbomvu: “We have been delighted to learn that ‘Suvarnabhumi’ means ‘land of gold’ while O.R. Tambo International Airport serves a region famous for its gold mining. We believe therefore that the signs are good for a fruitful partnership.”
