Ortia rental issue concludes amicably

THERE’S BEEN an amicable
end to a long-standing
battle for market-related
rentals at OR Tambo
International Airport.
Following a June
decision by the Regulating
Committee for the Airports
Company that Acsa reduce
rentals at Ortia, FTW
learned this week that the
company had complied and
that the implementation
date was backdated to June
this year.
It ends a long process of
negotiation by the Airside
Operators’ Association and
the Air Cargo Operators’
Committee initiated
in August last year in
which Acsa was accused
of charging double the
going rate for office and
warehouse space at the
airport. It was claimed at
the time to be an abuse of
its monopoly position.
The ruling by the
Regulator is only applicable
to tenants using the
warehouse as an airport
terminal, also described as
relevant activity in the Act.
In other words when it is
not possible to conduct the
business at an alternative
premises.
Chairman of Acoc, Alwyn
Rautenbach, told FTW
that his members were
delighted that the ruling
had been actioned and that
the Regulator had indeed
acted on their complaints.
He said that they were now
satisfied with the rentals
being charged.
An independent survey
was commissioned at
the time to establish the
going rate for rentals in
the area and although the
recommended rates were
set at the upper level of
the market, there were
no complaints from cargo
operators.