ACSA (Airports Company South Africa) is fast realising its objective of transforming Africa’s busiest airport into a world-class facility, and one of the world’s leading international airports. Johannesburg International Airport’s (JIA) state-of-the-art architecture and subsequent dramatic transformation is no doubt injecting a sense of pride in every South African. However, for these developments to realise their true value it is essential that an organised, world-class surface transportation system is available to arriving tourists and visitors.

In aid of this vision JIA opened two public transport termini, one for metered taxis and shuttles and the other for buses and coaches, in August 2000. Through these termini passengers are offered a seamless experience that extends beyond air to private motor vehicle transfer, to embrace the use of public transport.

The terminus for metered taxis and shuttles, catering largely for individual business travellers and other tourists who have not made prior arrangements for public transport, is located outside International Arrivals. The 22 concessionaires contracted to provide public transport from the airport were all successful bidders in an open tender process that had Black Economic Empowerment as its primary criterion.

With the opening of the metered taxis and shuttle terminus, a queuing system and a structured fee system was introduced. Through this system passengers use the first vehicle in line at the stated tariff thus negating the need to conduct any form of negotiation with operators.

To bring this service fully in line with that offered at world-renowned international airports sophisticated “Central Point of Sale” (CPS) kiosks became operational in November 2001. These CPS kiosks are located in the restricted areas, thereby also addressing the problem of touting. Izinga Transport Management (Itram) (Pty) Ltd. will manage the service on an outsourcing basis.