Disruption warning for one of South Africa’s biggest airports

Major upgrades planned for the Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) are set to start next month, although these may have a massive effect on passengers and could lead to disruptions.

The Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) announced a more than R9 billion investment into South Africa’s record-breaking airport, following on the upgrades that are underway at other airports across the country.

Since the announcement, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Western Cape has expressed concerns regarding the disruptions the upgrades will have.

ACSA admitted that passenger movement will be disrupted once construction begins, especially once work on the new domestic arrivals area commences in March and continues through to at least 2029.

Upgrades include a completely new domestic aircraft terminal, which is valued at approximately R2.4 billion.

The expansion of the international terminal is projected to cost R853 million, while upgrades to security infrastructure and the development of a new main runway are expected to cost R6.1 billion.

The DA believes that, given the scale and duration of these projects, careful planning and communication are critical.

It added that the upgrades represent a significant vote of confidence in Cape Town’s continued growth as an aviation and tourism hub.

The airport recorded its strongest peak season yet in 2025, welcoming nearly 11.7 million passengers to and through its terminals between October 2025 and January 2026.

On 28 December, the CTIA recorded a peak of nearly 40,000 travellers, helping the airport to recover to 98% of its pre-Covid passenger levels.

This increase in passenger numbers has reportedly been driven largely by strong international and regional demand.

“This growth matters deeply to the Western Cape economy,” said Noko Masipa, DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism.

“Air connectivity underpins our Growth for Jobs Strategy and links the province to key global markets.”

“Every additional route and every increase in passenger capacity strengthen job creation and economic resilience.”

Addressing possible disruptions

In hopes of getting clarity, Masipa has invited the Airports Company to brief the Western Cape’s Provincial Parliament’s Standing Committee on Economic Development and Tourism on the upgrade programme.

During the briefing, implementation timelines, disruption mitigation strategies, and coordination with airlines and tourism stakeholders will be on the agenda.

Masipa said he also hopes to iron out contingency planning for peak travel seasons and measures to safeguard passenger experience during construction.

“Our tourism offering is one of the Western Cape’s most important economic assets, and we welcome this significant investment in its long-term growth,” he said.

“At the same time, we need assurances from ACSA on their efforts to mitigate the disruptions these upgrades will cause.”

“We will be inviting ACSA to brief the Standing Committee so that we can ensure clear planning, transparent timelines and effective mitigation measures are in place.”

ACSA said that it is looking to refurbish its entire network of airports by 2032, funding its projects through its own cash reserve of R5.9 billion, as well as capital generated through its operations.

The company also allocated R2.3 billion towards its refurbishment and rehabilitation projects during the current financial year, compared to the R727 million it allocated previously.