Acsa boss not worried about competitor airport in Cape Town

The anticipated opening of the Cape Winelands Airport in 2027 has raised questions about its potential impact on Cape Town International Airport.

However, Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) CEO Mpumi Mpofu says the new airport will not pose a threat to the existing operations of Cape Town International, and that the two airports can coexist and complement each other.

Read/listen:
Behind Cape Town International Airport’s planned expansion
Still a few steps needed for Cape Winelands Airport to take flight

Mpofu was speaking at a media briefing at Acsa’s offices at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday morning. 

“We are not the exclusive owners of all the airports in the country,” she said.

“When a perception is created that Acsa will prevent airports with licences from developing because Acsa thinks [doing so is] going to undermine it – it can never be so.”

The Cape Winelands Airport, scheduled to open in 2027, will be located near Durbanville and is set to offer both local and international flights once operational.

Read: Jet fuel shortage in Johannesburg averted

“Far be it from Acsa to ever suggest that there must never be another airport. However, the process of determining whether an area needs another airport is based on throughput, catchment area, infrastructure capability and the current operations of an existing airport to determine if a second airport is required,” Mpofu said. 

She noted that the Department of Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority are the regulatory bodies that identify whether a second airport is required in an area. 

Read: Can Acsa fix our broken airports?

Lanseria International Airport, according to its website, was built in 1974 after then Minister of Planning JJ Loots confirmed the need for a new airport. 

“We live side by side with Lanseria and we have no problems because Johannesburg long reached the threshold of only one airport operating and the level of congestion at OR Tambo justified a second airport,” said Mpofu.

“The wishes of investors and dreams of business people don’t justify a second airport,” she added. 

She noted that most big cities have multiple airports. London, for example, has six, while New York has three.

“Once the city becomes big enough there’s a point that triggers a requirement for a second airport. It’s okay.

“This pseudo competition that is insinuated is not how aviation operates.”

A closer option for diverted flights

Deon Cloete, managing director of Cape Winelands Airport, told Moneyweb the main point of the airport is to take the pressure off the Cape Town airport. 

“If things go wrong such as technical problems or the airport has to close up, then you won’t have to inconvenience passengers by flying [them] back to Johannesburg,” he said.

“This airport will act as an alternative for diversions. We will be available to receive all flights, domestic, regional and international.”

Cloete said development of the airport is set to commence by the end of this calendar year and will be followed by a two-year construction process. 

“This development [will] include a new 3.5km runway, new terminal buildings, hangars, technical facilities and cargo facilities,” he added.

“We are very confident that we’ll be able to steadily grow traffic and then create another access point into the province and into the country.”

Acsa update

Acsa also revealed a R400 million profit for the 2023/24 financial year, marking the first profit recorded by the state-owned entity since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Read: Acsa returns to profit for first time since 2020

However, the group still faces challenges with its infrastructure.

To remedy this, a major capital programme is set to run over the next five years.

“We are investing R21 billion in total over the next five years, with 70% [R14 billion] dedicated to the maintenance, refurbishment, and replacement of our infrastructure.”

She pointed to recent incidents, such as the failure of a jet fuel valve at OR Tambo International Airport and cable issues at Cape Town International Airport, as clear indicators of the infrastructure’s decline.

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