Cape Town’s second airport, the Cape Winelands Airport, is moving a step closer to becoming reality after submitting its EA.
The project, driven by RSA.aero, a consortium of aviation industry veterans, confirmed the submission of an Environmental Authorisation.
This submission represents a major step forward in bringing the airport closer to reality.
CAPE WINELANDS AIRPORT SUBMITS ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATION (EA)
Airport developers, government representatives and aviation professionals recently gathered at the Groot Phesantekraal Wine Estate in Durbanville to discuss the airport’s progress and regional development.
Managing Director of Cape Winelands Airport, Deon Cloete, said that submitting the EA was a major achievement as it had been a lengthy process.
The EA application marks the culmination of five years of groundwork and paves the way for regulatory decisions expected before the end of 2025.
“We have officially submitted the EA application. This is the result of five years of groundwork.” Cloete said.
Local community and other relevant stakeholders were given time to express concerns and raise objections regarding the establishment of the airport facility.
NEW AVIATION HUB
The airport is situated in a semi-rural location on the outskirts of Cape Town.
It is located on a 150-hectare site 13 km northeast of Durbanville.
That said, the establishment of this airport facility represents expansion in South Africa’s aviation network.
Fisantekraal Airfield, established in 1943, was an airstrip used by the South African Airforce until being sold to a private owner in 1993.
The airport’s location offers good accessibility, growth potential as well as an ability to relieve congestion at Cape Town International airport.
With appropriate infrastructure and funding the airport facility could indeed handle a significant amount of traffic. Moreover, becoming a catalyst for economic growth in the region.
The project is now in the process of evaluating funding offers.
CATALYST FOR GROWTH
The Cape Winelands Airport can facilitate improved air access and increased tourism, thus stimulating economic growth for the region.
The facility could have the capacity to process over five million passengers annually by 2050.
Cape Town is seeing significant growth. Therefore, there is a need to scale up the city’s aviation infrastructure.
The Western Cape Property Development Forum projects Cape Town’s population will reach over 10 million people by 2050.
This would qualify Cape Town as a megacity. Hence the need to prepare for the future and to invest in infrastructure.
“Cape Town’s growth is accelerating. The challenge now is to prepare infrastructure fast enough to accommodate that,’” Jeremy Wiley from the Western Cape Property Development Forum said.
The Cape Winelands Airport is expected to start offering local and international flights in 2027, promising state-of-the-art facilities and first-class service.
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