Upgrades at the O.R. Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) are underway and progressing well, as the airport continues with its R14.5 billion five-year Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) programme.
The upgrades form part of the investment that began in 2024, and are aimed at modernising key airport infrastructure, boosting operational reliability, and delivering a more comfortable experience for travellers.
Current upgrades are aimed at upgrading areas of high passenger traffic within the airport, including refurbishing the escalators and travelators.
The airport is also upgrading to new ergonomic seating for traveller comfort, as well as replacing carpets at all of its international boarding gates with durable tiling.
For travellers who struggle to navigate the busy airport, O.R. Tambo is upgrading enhanced wayfinding signage, ensuring that travellers get to their boarding gates on time.
These upgrades have all been implemented by ORTIA in response to direct passenger feedback.
As such, the airport is accelerating its work on the full refurbishment of terminal ablution facilities.
“At O.R. Tambo International Airport, we listen to our passengers,” said Jabu Khambule, Regional General Manager at O. R. Tambo International Airport.
“This programme directly addresses their expectations for facility standards, delivering infrastructure that meets global benchmarks.”
Work at the airport took a brief pause for the G20 Leaders’ Summit, as well as the festive peak travel period, but has since resumed at full capacity.
World-class ablution facilities have been installed and are now operational for domestic arrivals on the ground floor, as well as domestic departures, near the airport’s central security.
The first phase of the ablution refurbishment project commenced in June last year and is scheduled to be completed by the end of March this year, modernising 90 individual toilets at the airport.
“Phase 2, which focuses on 780 individual toilets, will commence in July 2026. Our planning will ensure minimal inconvenience to our valued passengers,” added Khambule.
He added that the upgrades ensure the long-term efficiency, safety, and pride of Africa’s busiest airport, and thanked travellers for their patience during construction.
“We are working towards an airport that moves people efficiently while delivering comfort and excellence,” Khambule concluded.
Further upgrades expected
At the end of last year, the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) announced that it was looking to raise half of the programme’s budget in the next twelve months.
The company’s CFO, Luzuko Mbotya, said the company is in an improved financial position, putting it on favourable terms with banks and investors.
He added that ACSA’s profit more than doubled to R1.1 billion in the year through March 2025, indicating an investment appetite towards its operations.
“We really are better poised now to go to the market and fetch the correct price, the most competitive financial instruments, for the R10 billion, which is half of the CAPEX,” Mbotya said.
ACSA is looking to refurbish its entire network of airports by 2032, funding its projects through its own cash pile of R5.9 billion and capital reserves generated through its own operations.
Preparatory work for a new cargo terminal at the O.R. Tambo International Airport has already been completed.
The airports company plans to spend R5.7 billion on this upgrade, and have it completed by 2028 or 20209.
“We have now started and approved the enablement works,” ACSA CEO Mpumi Mpofu said.
The company has allocated R2.3 billion towards its refurbishment and rehabilitation projects during the current financial year, compared to the R727 million it allocated previously.
Key projects for the airports company include an extension to the domestic departure lounge at the Cape Town International Airport, as well as improving its main runway, gates, and domestic arrivals terminal.
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