From tarmac to terminal: how ACSA's R21.7 billion will take airport upgrades to new heights

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) recently unveiled a comprehensive R21.7 billion plan aimed at upgrading several key airports across the country.

Planned to roll out in the next five years, the initiative aims to enhance passenger experiences and equip facilities with cutting-edge technology, ensuring that South Africa remains competitive in the global aviation arena.

Major upgrades will take place at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, Cape Town International Airport, George Airport, Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport in Gqeberha and King Phalo Airport in East London. 

As outlined by Nompumelelo Mpofu, ACSA CEO, plans for Cape Town International Airport include the reconfiguration of the domestic arrivals terminal, runway realignment, terminal redevelopment, and the addition of new domestic departure gates.

Meanwhile, O.R. Tambo International Airport is set to develop a new midfield cargo terminal and enhance the passenger terminal complex, alongside introducing a modern bus station and public transport interchange.

George Airport will see terminal expansions to facilitate increased passenger flow, Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport will undergo terminal developments, and King Phalo Airport will see an expansion of its departure lounge. 

Mpofu shared that the planned spend is a counteractive move positioning South Africa ahead of contending aviation hubs in cities like Cairo, Addis Ababa, and Nairobi.

"Large-scale infrastructure projects across African airports signal a continental race for relevance. From West Africa to East Africa, countries are investing aggressively, often with state backing, to position their airports as competitive hubs in a future marked by growing intra-African trade, regional integration and tourism demand.

"To counteract this, we are stepping up infrastructure development, benchmarking ourselves against global peers and strengthening strategic alliances." 

She continued: "Through the investment of over R21.7 billion in infrastructure, our world-class Airport network is poised to remain the leading network on the continent, focusing on innovation and technology enhancement for excellent passenger experience and increased aircargo operations.

"To achieve this, our focus will also be on improving our capability through training the next generation of aviation professionals."

Beyond safeguarding South Africa's position as a leading air travel destination, Mpofu highlighted the broader implications of this investment.

"The investment will also unlock new growth corridors in line with South Africa’s developmental agenda ... Far from just brick and mortar, these projects are catalysts for inclusive growth through creation of jobs, local enterprise development and enhanced regional competitiveness."

Mpofu also shared that ACSA has entered into strategic partnerships with institutions such as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and The Innovation Hub Management Company to explore avenues for aviation research and development, airport digitisation and operational intelligence, all geared towards building smarter airports that respond to the evolving needs of passengers and the pressures of sustainability.

"We are striving to position South African airports as living laboratories for innovation and entrepreneurship, where startups and established firms can co-create the next generation of aviation solutions, from biometric and autonomous ground support processes to predictive maintenance and energy optimisation," she added.