OR Tambo Airport undergoes major upgrades to improve safety and cleanliness
The initiative aims to restore safety, modernise facilities, and enhance the travel experience, despite short-term disruptions.
Passengers, employees and visitors at OR Tambo International Airport can expect a cleaner, safer, and more modern environment as Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) rolls out a large-scale hygiene and infrastructure upgrade.
While the experience for travellers may become slightly more uncomfortable in the short term, ACSA says the disruption is a necessary part of restoring dignity, safety and confidence at South Africa’s busiest airport.
Speaking during a maintenance briefing on June 19, ACSA CEO Mpumi Mpofu said the initiative is about more than fixing toilets or pipes, it’s about changing the overall perception of OR Tambo.
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“We’re sharing these maintenance plans because we want to reverse the narrative that OR Tambo is in a state of crisis,” Mpofu explained.
“We are working hard to restore confidence. While the maintenance work may cause disruptions, this is about giving passengers the best experience possible. It’s about dignity, confidence, and doing things properly.”
Top priorities in the project include addressing long-standing issues such as unpleasant odours caused by sewerage problems in the terminal basements, broken fire escape doors that have allowed vagrants and vandals to gain access, and unhygienic toilets in urgent need of refurbishment.
In response, ACSA has already ramped up cleaning schedules, installed odour-control systems, repaired key infrastructure, and deployed more security personnel in affected areas.
And that’s just the beginning.
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Restroom facilities at OR Tambo are undergoing a full upgrade, with new baby-changing rooms, disability access features, and modern fittings being installed.
Passengers will also be able to scan QR codes in the restrooms to report problems immediately.
Behind the scenes, airport staff are receiving ongoing professional training to ensure hygiene and safety standards align with international best practices.
Mpofu cautioned travellers to expect construction sites, barriers and closed escalators throughout the airport in the coming years.
“We know passengers won’t always be happy about the inconvenience, but these changes are necessary if we want to deliver the kind of airport experience that South Africans deserve,” she said.
With ACSA reporting over R1 billion in profit by the second quarter of 2025, the company is confident it can fund the improvements and transform OR Tambo into a world-class gateway and symbol of national pride.
