The first phase of a new R2.3 billion terminal at OR Tambo International Airport will open on Wednesday, said the Airports Company South Africa (Acsa).

Most arriving international passengers would be processed through the new central terminal building, which had a more user-friendly customs control process, Acsa said in a statement.

They would be received into an international arrivals public concourse, which at 18 000m² was more than double the size of the existing international arrivals halls.

Retail facilities on the concourse included a post office, cellular phone shops and foreign exchange services. Various eateries were expected to open by December.

Acsa said the departures facility in the central terminal building would become operational in April, would have 75 check-in counters, and would link international and domestic check-in facilities.

In line with the existing airport flow, departures will be predominantly be on the upper level and arrivals on the ground level.

Airport general manager Chris Hlekane advised people picking up incoming international passengers to take heed of the new signage.

He said they would be helped by Acsa's new i-Help Agents, dressed in orange waistcoats, located along the new route.

Acsa said the mezzanines in the new terminal would offer retail facilities, while the basements would be used for services and baggage handling.

Designed for A380 'superjumbo'

The project was expected to be fully complete by December next year.

It included the complete installation of a new baggage management system at international arrivals with 10 new baggage reclaim carousels, four of them 90 metres long and designed for large aircraft such as the Airbus A380.

Acsa said the construction of the Gautrain Station had been completed -making it the first and to be handed over to Bombela for final finishing.

The railway line would be elevated above the airport precinct (over the upper roadway system) and would be directly connected to the Central terminal building.

Hlekane described the opening of the new terminal, to be held on Wednesday, as an "important milestone" which marked the start of completion of the final piece in the airport's massive infrastructure development programme in the run-up to 2010.

"It gives me great pleasure to declare that OR Tambo is on track for 2010 and beyond," he said.

Sapa