An ambitious plan is underway to establish a new international airport in the Western Cape.
The Cape Winelands Airport, which has a rich history dating back to the 1940s, was acquired by private investors in 2020, who plan to convert the small site into a major travel hub that will serve as the gateway for tourists visiting the region’s many wine estates.
The airport was established in 1943 as an operational base for the South African Air Force.
It featured four runways and was home to multiple Lockheed Ventura bombers during World War II.
Previously known as the Fisantekraal Airfield, the site belonged to the South African Air Force. However, it became privately owned in 1993.
In November 2020, the Cape Winelands Airport property was acquired by private investors, and the site is now owned and operated by RSA.Aero.
Right now, Cape Winelands Airport serves as a general aviation facility and is a popular choice for flight training in the vicinity of Cape Town.
It will soon become much more than that, however, as plans are now underway to convert the site into a global airport that will absorb a significant portion of the traffic currently directed to Cape Town International.
The airport’s management previously unveiled a R7 billion redevelopment and expansion plan to create an international commercial airport.
First on the agenda is to expand and realign the main runway to 3,500m, which will allow it to take larger commercial aircraft.
Currently, the site has four runways, two of which are inactive, while the others are 700m and 900m long.
It also plans to build a new boutique terminal building with state-of-the-art facilities for passenger check-ins and baggage handling.
Additionally, the airport will gain a new cargo facility to ensure that aircraft can be loaded in a timely and efficient manner.
Cape Winelands Airport is also investing in new hangers for general aviation, business aviation, and other airline sectors.
The current fueling facilities will receive a major overhaul with storage for JetA1 and Avgas, as well as special spatial allocation for sustainable aviation fuels.
A petrol station is also expected to be built at the entrance to the airport, as is common practice, since it provides a convenient service to individuals travelling to and from the site.
Likewise, the completed airport is expected to have hotel accommodation, a heliport, warehouses, and logistics facilities.
Cape Town’s new airport
The Cape Winelands Airport recently featured at the South African Tourism Investment Summit.
The event hosted delegates from the airport who offered new insights into the project’s development.
“Positioned at the intersection of tourism, agri-business, aviation training, logistics and more, Cape Winelands Airport is designed to be far more than an aviation hub,” it said.
“It represents a gateway for economic transformation, including creating jobs, strengthening supply chains, and unlocking new visitor experiences in Cape Town.”
“By aligning infrastructure development with national tourism ambitions, Cape Winelands Airport is contributing to the creation of an investment-ready environment.”
Representative also attended the Routes World 2025 held in Hong Kong, which is a gathering of key players in global air service development.
At the event, the team engaged with various airline and airport leaders to establish connections that will drive traffic to Cape Winelands once it opens.
One of the goals of the new airport is to reduce traffic at Cape Town International to ease congestion, since Cape Town’s primary airport is struggling to keep up with demand.
Mark Wilkinson, Director of the Cape Winelands Airport, said that they hope to start construction on the site next year and to be operational by 2028 once the first phase of construction is completed.
“It is going to transform the economic landscape of Cape Town and the Western Cape,” he said at Africa’s Green Economy Summit.
“It has some incredible features, and it addresses many capacity constraints and unlocks latent growth for the existing demand.”
Wilkinson said this infrastructure project will have the single most significant impact from a socioeconomic perspective than any other project in Cape at the moment.
The airport’s management is raising between R8 billion and R10 billion, with a split between debt and equity.
“We’re currently undergoing a capital raising process. We are a private organisation and are currently privately funded,” said.
He explained that these projects require significant capital, as they are very capital-intensive, with extensive earthworks and civil works required.
“We hope to receive a positive record of decision regarding our environmental impact assessment and expect to commence the construction next year,” he said.
“So, at the moment, we’re engaging with infrastructure funds, banks, impact funds, private equity operators, and wealthy individuals.”
Wilkinson compared Cape Winelands to Lanseria Airport and Kruger-Mpumalanga Airport, examples of well-run travel hubs that offer an alternate entry point for tourists visiting the region.
Loading ...
