The Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has announced that the Terminal Capacity Optimisation project at Gqeberha’s Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (CDSIA) will begin on 26 June 2026.
Previously known as the Port Elizabeth International Airport, the CDSIA serves as the city’s only commercial airport.
The airport was established in 1929 and has since earned the nickname “the ten-minute airport” for being less than ten minutes away from most major areas in the city.
It currently serves over 1.2 million passengers aboard 60,000 scheduled flights every year, as well as 800 tons of cargo, which includes flowers, frozen lobster, meat, ostrich skins, and mushrooms.
ACSA noted that several improvements became necessary, thanks to an increase in tourism to the region, resulting in the expansion of the airport’s terminal to handle up to 2 million passengers per year.
As a result, the Terminal Capacity Optimisation project is the first of several upgrades ACSA has planned for the Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport over the next five years.
It is committed to minimising disruptions at the airport throughout the construction period, which ACSA confirmed is expected to wrap up by 16 November this year.
The Airports Company said that all stakeholders are set to receive regular updates regarding the project’s progress, as well as any schedule adjustments or significant changes.
“CDSIA is a critical asset to regional economic activity in the province, supporting not only tourism growth and global connectivity but also strengthening trade flows,” ACSA declared.
“Building strong stakeholder relationships is a priority for CDSIA, because what impacts the city impacts our airport.”
The company noted that the international airport represents a progressive development node of the Coega Special Economic Zone, considering its proximity to the Port of Gqeberha.
Timely upgrades for another of South Africa’s airports
Several key airports in South Africa are in line for major upgrades alongside the Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport, including the Cape Town International Airport, O.R. Tambo International Airport, and the Bram Fischer International Airport in Bloemfontein.
Many of these have not received significant infrastructure upgrades in years, necessitating ACSA’s Terminal Capacity Optimisation Project.
The project is part of the company’s broader capital expansion program, which aims to revitalise its facilities and ensure their long-term operational efficiency across South Africa’s airport network.
A 2024 capacity analysis found that congestion during peak holiday periods in key areas of the Eastern Cape airport’s terminal building highlighted the need for expansion.
The areas highlighted include the airport’s departures concourse, security screening area, and the departures lounge.
While ACSA’s full Terminal Expansion Project is scheduled for 2030, it said that the Terminal Capacity Optimisation Project serves as a crucial interim solution.
This project aims to improve passenger flow and ease of travel by increasing the facility’s check-in processing capacity, improving circulation between check-in and security, enhancing security processing, and expanding the departures lounge.
Airport manager at the Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport, Claudia Daniels, declared that passengers would experience minimal disruptions during the construction period.
“Our primary objective is the safe and seamless facilitation of all airport users,” she said.
“The airport team stands ready to meet the challenges ahead, poised to grow into the next decade and beyond.”
Planned upgrades at Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport
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