R300-million upgrade for international airport in South Africa

The Bram Fischer International Airport in Bloemfontein will receive upgrades worth over R300 million as the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) aims to expand its operational capacity.

An agreement was signed between ACSA and the Mangaung Metro Municipality (MMM) to transform the airport into a major regional tourism and logistics hub.

The airport is currently the fourth busiest in South Africa, handling around 600,000 passengers annually, and was recently recognised as Africa’s best airport in departures among airports serving under 2 million passengers.

ACSA hopes to expand the Bram Fisher International Airport’s capacity from 600,000 to 2.5 million in the long term.

Doing so will require collaboration with MMM, which is responsible for the rezoning processes, the provision of bulk municipal infrastructure, and land enablement as the parties look to transform the airport into an aerotropolis.

ACSA, in turn, will implement airport priority projects in line with approved development plans.

The company confirmed to TopAuto that planned developments include transforming the airport into an integrated transport hub – a multi-modal transport facility integrating private vehicles, taxis, and buses.

It also aims to enhance the terminal by expanding the departures lounge area, as well as introducing conferencing and related facilities to support non-aeronautical revenue.

Infrastructure upgrades include the refurbishment of the ACSA-owned section of the airport access road from the N8 bridge, as well as rehabilitation work on the runway and taxiway.

R250 million will be spent on rehabilitating the airport’s Runway 02/20 and its associated taxiways, while R90 million has been earmarked for the main waterline and service roads project.

Construction on the runway and taxiways is already underway, and ACSA hopes to have these completed by 16 April 2027.

The main waterline and service road rehabilitation projects are scheduled to commence on 19 November 2026, with completion expected by 11 January 2028.

Investing in an aerotropolis

The agreement sees ACSA take the next step towards its broader “airport city” and “aerotropolis” developments, which seek to leverage airport infrastructure to drive sustainable economic growth and development.

During a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing, both parties emphasised the importance of sustaining the collaboration and delivering key projects to generate tangible benefits for Mangaung.

These benefits include economic growth and investment attraction, skills and infrastructure development, tourism promotion, and logistics and cargo improvements.

ACSA Assistant General Manager Faith Zwane noted that airports are powerful economic enablers that extend far beyond aviation operations.

“Through this partnership with the MMM, we are aligning our development vision to ensure that Bram Fischer International Airport continues to serve as a strategic gateway for the Free State while unlocking new opportunities for investment, skills development, trade and job creation in the region,” she said.

Zwane explained that the partnership aims to create an environment that enables sustainable growth while ensuring that the airport expansion and precinct development are integrated with the city’s economic and spatial development strategies.

Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality City Manager, Sello More, added that the airport is a key factor that positions the city as a hub for logistics and investment.

“Through the development of a logistics precinct, expanded cargo capabilities and aviation-linked industries, we are strengthening regional value chains while supporting South Africa’s broader trade corridors,” he said.

More added that the MoU with ACSA provides an important framework as the parties collaborate to unlock investment opportunities and drive economic diversification in the region.