The Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has expressed confidence that the massive infrastructure development project underway at the Johannesburg International Airport (JIA) will be completed by 2009.

The airport's General Manager Chris Hlekane said all this would be done to ensure that there was no construction activity during the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup.

Mr Hlekane briefed reporters on Thursday regarding progress on infrastructure development at the airport; aviation security and customer service improvement.

ACSA has set aside R3.5 billion of its R5.2 billion infrastructure development programme, for the JIA.

The money is being spent on the construction of a new central terminal building that will link the international and domestic terminals; an international pier that will allow for a substantial increase in the number of passengers boarding and disembarking through air bridges as well as a second multi-storey parkade and a new upper roadway.

ACSA reports that the new central terminal building, the construction of which began in June, would be equipped with infrastructure for baggage-handling for the Airbus A380 and would be connected to the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link for easy access by rail.

It said the improved passenger service resulting from the new international pier would help airlines improve their turnaround times.

The pier development will also provide additional passenger holding space and offer an expanded duty-free mall for international passengers.

It will also include a bus station to serve departures to remotely parked aircraft, ACSA explained, adding that construction was well underway and that the first phase would be completed in March 2007.

The second multi-storey parkade will result in 5 200 additional parking bays being added to the current 8 700 bays while the new upper roadway project also includes the construction of a concrete floor and support columns for the Gautrain station building.

ACSA also emphasised its commitment to aviation security and passenger safety.

"ACSA's approach to aviation security is to develop and sustain partnerships with all security stakeholders to ensure a safe and secure airport environment through implementation and compliance to national Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and international standards International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)," the airports company said.

It has among others, completed a new access permit system that has zone management functionality and finger print biometric technology.

"This process also enabled us to clean up our database which resulted in the issuance of some 17 000 [versus almost 30 000 permits]; ensure that applicants were vetted by SAPS for criminal checks as well as revise how we manage permits including increasing non-compliance penalties," ACSA said.

Regarding improved customer service, ACSA committed itself to working hard to ensure that its service levels matched or exceeded the standards set by the best airports in the world.

"We have identified the human element as a key focus area for improved service excellence and customer care, and have launched several projects to realise this goal," it added.

These projects include the training of 16 floor marshals in customer service.

"This unique product enhances the level of service we are providing at JIA as these trained and vibrant staff will be present amongst passengers, readily available to assist any passenger especially the elderly," ACSA said.

It has also embarked on initiatives aimed at easing congestion on the roads and in the parking areas at the airport.