Court secures baggage screening units for OR Tambo and King Shaka

AIRLINE passengers can thank the courts for the replacement of four critical Hold Baggage Screening (HBS) units at OR Tambo and King Shaka International Airports.

- BANELE GININDZA

This is as a protracted legal dispute continues involving - the Aviation Co-ordination Services (ACS), Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) and the South African Civil Aviation Authority (Sacaa) - over who holds the mandate to provide check-in hold baggage screening (HBS) services at South African airports.

The ACS said it had launched the legal action given the risk of service breakdown due to ageing screening infrastructure and manufacturer support withdrawal, which compelled it to seek urgent court relief in 2024 to allow it to replace four back-up Level 3 HBS units at OR Tambo and King Shaka.

ACS in November obtained an order barring Acsa from implementing its insourcing decision or awarding any contracts under its tender that directed Acsa to allow ACS to replace the equipment; and ordered Sacaa to approve the replacement within five days.