The developers of the new Cape Winelands Airport in the Western Cape have shared new teaser images showing early architectural concepts for the project.
The video, produced by Boogertman + Partners Architects, shows several drawings of the airport’s final layout, including an aerial view of the main terminal building.
“The design draws inspiration from the natural beauty of the landscape — its patterns, textures and forms — as well as the distinctive regional lifestyle and heritage,” it said.
“From the tapestry of vineyards and layered mountain backdrops to a sense of movement, openness and spatial order unique to the Winelands, the design concept is shaped by the character of the region.”
The developers emphasised that the airport takes aesthetic inspiration from the surrounding vineyards, ensuring that the project feels connected to the landscape.
“While the development continues to progress through key milestones, opportunities like this allow us to share some of the ideas, creative processes and inspiration shaping this visionary project,” they said.
The new airport is being built on the site of the Fisantekraal Airfield, which was established in 1943 and was initially used by the South African Air Force before a private buyout in 1993.
It was acquired by RSA Aero in 2020, with plans to convert the site into a commercial international airport with several facilities and services.
This includes scheduled domestic and international passenger and cargo flights, unscheduled private operations, commercial property developments, and a new logistics hub to support multi-modal commercial activity in the region.
Another key aspect of the Cape Winelands Airport is that it will serve as an alternative to Cape Town International Airport, helping to take in the region’s record-setting traveller numbers.
It can also be used as an alternate landing zone for international flights in emergencies, as aircraft in the past have had to divert all the way to O.R. Tambo International in Gauteng in some cases.
The project is supported by Growthpoint Properties, South Africa’s largest listed real estate development firm, which joined as a strategic partner in 2025.
It will co-develop and manage a 450-hectare mixed-use aviation precinct ancillary to the airport terminal and runway.
Construction on the new aviation precinct is scheduled to begin later this year, and the first phase is expected to be commissioned by 2028.
South Africa’s new international airport
The Cape Winelands Airport is located outside Durbanville, positioning it between Cape Town and Winelands towns like Stellenbosch and Franschhoek.
It represents an R8 billion investment from the developers to establish a full-fledged international aviation hub, including all of the facilities that such a project requires.
The main runway will be realigned and extended to 3,500m, allowing it to take larger commercial aircraft. The old site has four runways, two of which are inactive, while the others are 700m and 900m long.
It will also gain a new terminal building with state-of-the-art baggage handling facilities, as well as a new cargo depot, to ensure aircraft can be loaded in a timely and efficient manner.
The fueling storage area will be overhauled to store JetA1 and Avgas, with dedicated space for sustainable aviation fuels.
Supporting businesses and facilities are expected to follow once the airport is operational, including a petrol station, hotels, warehouses, and logistics facilities.
Cape Winelands Airport
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