The new Cape Town International Airport is betting on connecting Africa by air

For many years, Cape Winelands Airport in South Africa was the place where pilots learned how to take to the skies. Soon, it will be a place where international travelers board planes.

The airport is located about 16 miles from Cape Town International Airport, and its refurbishment is scheduled to begin in April 2027 to transform it into an integrated mall that its developers say will not compete with its larger neighbour, but rather complement it. RSA Aero Limited, the company behind the project, wants Cape Winelands Airport to operate as a secondary airport for Cape Town, with the aim of relieving pressure on the city's existing international airport, while also launching new services across the African continent.

“We will serve different routes and different time periods,” Nicholas Ferguson, the company’s managing director, told Ofoq News. He added that Cape Winelands Airport already has five agreements signed with major airlines, and plans to add more.

Ferguson saw a huge opportunity in offering direct flights within Africa, a market still severely lacking in air connectivity. “We have this geographical advantage of being at the southern tip of the continent, and we have to take advantage of it,” he said.

But realistically, direct intra-African flights to Nigeria will be among our first departure points.” For her part, Adele Klingenberg, director of planning and strategy at Cape Winelands Airport, presented the airport’s route strategy as a bet on the African continent.

“We want to make sure that we really open the way for travel within the African continent.” The reality of air travel within Africa Although Africa has about a fifth of the world’s population, it represents only 2% of global air traffic, according to a recent study issued by the International Air Transport Association.

African aviation expert, Eden Sammondero, said that this gap reflects deeper problems. He said: “What hinders air travel within Africa is not the lack of airports or weak demand potential, but rather a complex network of structural and political constraints.”

He added: “Today, flights within Africa cost about 45% more than flights within Europe. The high ticket prices are due to large government taxes, airport facility fees, and air navigation fees.

Aviation fuel usually represents about 40% of operating costs, twice the global average.” African passport holders need to obtain a prior visa before traveling on about 50% of trips within the continent, while visa-free entry applies to only about 28% of trips, which further limits travel.

“In addition, African airspace is fragmented by national regulations and protectionist policies that prioritize state-owned airlines and restrict air transport rights, slowing the implementation of Open Skies policy commitments,” Samundero added. He said that the result is an incoherent and poorly connected network, as there are only direct flights on about 19% of routes within Africa, forcing travelers to travel through multiple regional centers, or even through airports outside the continent.

But Samundero saw South Africa, as having the “most developed air transport market” on the continent, taking the lead in liberalizing its airspace and building a continental gateway. “New airports like Cape Winelands can send a strong message as a viable project that complements what already exists,” he said.

“Cape Winelands Airport has an opportunity to relieve congestion at the nearby airport, increase exports of local agricultural products such as wine, fruit and time-sensitive products, as well as create jobs in the region,” he added. The airport aims to begin passenger flights in 2029, and promises to create new jobs, new businesses and even create a new neighborhood.

Six objections to the construction work were submitted, based on concerns related to noise, environmental pollution, and social and economic impacts, but they were all rejected. Klingenberg described the project as a development that could benefit the entire region.

"There will be a mix of restaurants, retail opportunities and hotels, as well as general aviation hangars. Even the surrounding plots will include storage and warehouse facilities," she said.

“It's like creating a new neighbourhood, a new area within the wider Durbanville and Cape Town context,” she added. “It's also about contributing to the development of the larger region.”

“There will be job opportunities and a positive impact on the area.” This perception also extends to the overall look and feel of the place.

Wessel van Dijk, a principal at Boogertman & Partners Architects, said the goal was to make the building blend in with its surroundings. “The landscaping is very important, so you will see a lot of vineyards,” he said.

All of this draws from the cultural heritage of the Cape Winelands. We have integrated these elements into the area plan, urban design, and ultimately into the airport building itself.”

Klingenberg noted that the goal is to grow from 2 million passengers per year upon opening to 8 million passengers per year by 2050.