Queuing at OR Tambo is getting worse. No biometrics at land borders

Source: Tourism Update, 06/10/2016

South Africa`s immigration authorities have warned airlines that the
queuing chaos at OR Tambo may well get worse.


Treasury`s focus on cutting government expenditure means there are no
plans to increase the number of staff who are now required to also
collect biometric data. The Department of Home Affairs has also now
had to cut transporting staff to the airport to reduce costs and this
is expected to exacerbate the situation.


South African travellers departing the country are now also affected
as there is no separation of foreign and SA passport holders on
departure.


A leading travel industry figure, Wally Gaynor, md of Club Travel said
he had just had "a most horrific experience" where it took 45 minutes
to get through security because there was no space for people to stand
on the other side of security. Once his hand luggage was scanned there
was no room to move forward anymore.


David Frost, ceo of Satsa, has called on Home Affairs to only capture
biometrics of people entering the country if they require a visa and
did not apply in person. He said that until DHA had sufficient staff,
they should not be capturing the biometrics of every foreigner using
the airports.


Although the DHA spokesman has said the capture of biometrics is being
done for security purposes, government tourism statistics show that
79% of the foreign travellers in July crossed SA`s land borders, where
there is no collection of biometric data.


Airlines have had to accommodate passengers in hotels who have missed
flights as a result of the delays at OR Tambo International
Airport.


June Crawford, Chief Executive of Barsa said that, aside from the
inconvenience to passengers because of the disruption caused by the
long queues and waiting times, the airlines were bearing the cost of
the current congestion. "African and international airlines delivering
passengers to South Africa, in some instances, are having to put their
passengers into hotels overnight, although they are not required to do
so," said Crawford. She said passengers had taken up to three hours to
clear immigration.


Michi Messner, Regional Manager Africa for Qantas, said they had only
had delays from last week where customers were missing their domestic
connection flights. "At the moment we are covering the costs for the
customers, however we may change that should the situation worsen,"
said Messner. They have had to rebook customers on a later connection
on a daily basis.


Comair told Tourism Update that it was aware of the delays experienced
by customers travelling internationally into and out of OR Tambo
International Airport. "We`re assisting customers who miss their
connections by rebooking them on later flights or providing
accommodation where necessary," said Susan Van Der Ryst, Corporate
Communications Manager at Comair. "The impact of this on our business
is yet to be established but we`re participating in the task team
that`s working to address the situation and in ongoing contact with
all stakeholders."


A member of the industry, who preferred to remain anonymous, told
Tourism Update, that they had received complaints from customers,
which had affected South Africa`s tourism brand. "We`ve had comment
from customers saying that if they knew this was how the immigration
situation was here in South Africa, they would`ve chosen the
alternative destination that they had in mind," said the source.


"It has been necessary for baggage to be taken off the belts to make
room for the next flights so the collection of baggage is also
disrupted," added Crawford.