Aviation Co-ordination Services (ACS) has begun replacing four vital baggage screening units at OR Tambo and King Shaka International Airports after receiving approval from the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA).
The upgrade follows a legal battle between ACS, the SACAA, and Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) over responsibility for hold baggage screening at major airports.
Earlier this year, the High Court ruled in ACS’s favour, halting ACSA’s R3.15 billion in-sourcing initiative and directing SACAA to approve the necessary equipment upgrades.
ACS CEO Duke Phahla welcomed the regulator’s decision, stating, “We commend SACAA’s recognition of the urgency in replacing aged HBS equipment to ensure uninterrupted security operations at airports. We have always maintained that passenger safety and operational continuity must come first.”
Phahla added that while legal proceedings continue, ACS remains focused on maintaining seamless, world-class baggage screening services. “We are committed to working with ACSA, SACAA, and all stakeholders to uphold aviation security and ensure the integrity of operations,” he said.
The new systems are expected to enhance airport security and reduce disruptions in baggage handling as the peak travel season approaches.