Johannesburg’s O R Tambo International Airport has won a major award – Best Airport in Africa – at the prestigious World Airports Awards held in Copenhagen, Denmark on 30 March, 2011.

According to South African Airways’ Head of Australasia and India, Thevan Krishna, the award reflects South Africa’s substantial investment in new airport infrastructure and recognition that “best- in-class” facilities are key to the future of the country’s tourism industry.

“2010 put South Africa on the world map as we hosted the World Cup and our airports, our main gateway into South Africa, performed extraordinarily well,” Thevan said this week.

“The awards, based on more than 11 million survey questionnaires completed in 240 airports around the world are a true reflection of opinion about the best facilities available on all continents including Africa,” Thevan said.  

“South African Airways has complemented the investments in airport infrastructure in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban with new first and business class lounges, better check-in and arrival facilities and upgraded customer service.”

“We have also put in place better same-day connections to major African centres as well as forward connections to Europe, the UK, US and South America.”