Cape Town airports set for billions in investment to boost air travel and tourism

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09-10-2025
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CAPE Town’s aviation sector is preparing for a massive expansion, with billions of rands earmarked for airport upgrades and new infrastructure to meet growing international travel demand.

The Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) has committed more than R21.7 billion to upgrade Cape Town International Airport and other major airports nationwide, with extensive renovations at Cape Town’s main airport scheduled to run from 2026 to 2029. This represents the largest infrastructure investment since the 2010 FIFA World Cup, underscoring Acsa’s commitment to operational excellence and global competitiveness.

Meanwhile, the proposed R8 billion Cape Winelands Airport (CWA) is awaiting environmental approval. Project developers are hopeful that the environmental decision will come through approximately at the end of October. If given the green light by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, construction is set to break ground by end-2025, with operations starting in 2028.

Rising passenger demand and cargo growth

The investment comes as Cape Town continues to see a strong recovery in air travel and international tourism post-pandemic, with Cape Town International Airport recording an 8% increase in domestic travel and a 5% rise in international arrivals, while cargo volumes have grown by a massive 56%.

Earlier data showed:

Cape Town International Airport recorded 51,000 landings in 2025, a 13.3% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
In July alone, 59,945 tourists arrived via the airport, a 32.2% jump from the 2019 figure of 45,350, according to StatsSA.

Comprehensive airport upgrades

Acsa CEO Nompumelelo Mpofu announced that the upgrades will include:

• R388 million for extending the domestic departure lounge and gates.
• R1 billion for upgrading the domestic arrivals terminal and realigning the main runway.
• Construction of a new runway and expansion of both domestic and international terminals.

Mpofu admitted that travellers have not been receiving the service levels they deserve, citing Acsa’s pandemic-era decision to pause capital expenditure as a reason for current capacity constraints. Following a series of infrastructure issues at OR Tambo International and Cape Town International airports, Acsa has earmarked R14 billion for maintenance, refurbishment and infrastructure replacement.

Calls for an open skies policy

While infrastructure upgrades are critical, local leaders are also calling for broader policy reform to strengthen the aviation sector. James Vos, City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, has urged the government to adopt an open skies policy, which would allow more airlines access to airports.

According to Vos, an open skies policy removes restrictions on air routes, capacity, pricing and market access, ultimately enabling airlines to operate more freely and competitively, with benefits including increased connectivity, lower airfares and more opportunities for businesses.

Growing air connectivity

Vos also highlighted the success of Air Access, an air-route development initiative housed within Wesgro, which just celebrated its 10th anniversary. International seat capacity for the 2025/26 IATA winter season is set to climb 11%, placing capacity 38% above 2019 levels.

During the peak international season from November to March, Cape Town will be directly connected by:

• 24 airlines
• 30 destinations
• 35 routes
• 228 weekly flights

Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander noted that ten years ago, Cape Town’s skies looked very different, with long-haul connections being limited, highlighting the dramatic transformation in the city’s global connectivity.

Economic impact and job creation

The upgrades are expected to enhance intra-African connectivity while supporting economic growth by creating jobs and boosting tourism. The aviation boom is already translating into tangible economic benefits for the Western Cape region.