Name of the Project
ACSA infrastructure investment plan.

Location
South Africa.

Project Owner/s
Airports Company South Africa (ACSA).

Project Description
In accordance with the five-year permission recently granted by the Regulating Committee, ACSA has allocated R21.7-billion towards airport infrastructure developments focused on refurbishments, improvements and statutory compliance over the next five years.

The State-owned enterprise plans to embark on crucial capacity expansion projects at Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport, in the Eastern Cape, and George Airport, in the Western Cape, focusing on the expansion of their terminal facilities.

ACSA also plans to build a new cargo terminal, known as Mid-field Cargo, and at a later date, the Mid-field Passenger Terminal, at the OR Tambo Internal Airport, in Gauteng.

Other significant projects at the airport will include the extension of the bussing gates, which will entail adding six new bussing gates to Terminal A, in addition to expanding the retail, seating and holding lounge areas. Additionally, as part of Phase 2, a new mezzanine level will be built to enhance circulation and optimise seating and holding space.

At Cape Town International Airport (CTIA), in the Western Cape, the programme will include developments across landside facilities, terminal infrastructure and airfield operations.

The landside infrastructure programme will result in the expansion of the car rental precinct at R205-million to accommodate additional operators and increased vehicle capacity. The project will take 30 months to complete once the contractors have been appointed.

The terminal infrastructure programme will include the construction of a new domestic arrivals terminal; the extension of the existing domestic departures terminal, including three additional passenger loading bridges with contact stands, and expanded lounge facilities; and upgrades within the international terminal aimed at improving the passenger experience, particularly capacity pressure points.

The airfield infrastructure roll-out will result in the construction of a new Code F compliant runway with associated airfield services, two new Code F aircraft contact stands, the reconfiguration of an existing Code E aircraft stand to accommodate Code F aircraft and three new narrow-body Code C aircraft stands.

Code F refers to aircraft with a wingspan of between 69 m and 79 m such as the Airbus A-380-800 or Boeing 747-8.

The ACSA capital expenditure (capex) programme will also result in the construction of a new perimeter fence to strengthen airfield security.

At King Shaka International Airport, in KwaZulu-Natal, a hotel will be developed, with terminal expansion during the final year of the five-year permission period.

At King Phalo Airport, in the Eastern Cape, the focus will be on expanding the departure lounge, relocating the security checkpoint, upgrading the ablution facilities, improving retail options in the departure lounge, and adding offices and lounge space on the first floor.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
ACSA has put in place an estimated R20-billion project pipeline for OR Tambo International Airport until the end of 2031, a key component of which is the Midfield Cargo Complex. It is expected to introduce new cargo terminals, warehousing and logistics facilities between the airport’s parallel runways. The complex has an indicative investment value of about R5.7-billion, excluding VAT, comprising about R1.45-billion for aeronautical infrastructure and R4.27-billion for nonaeronautical infrastructure.

Other major OR Tambo projects include a fuel trigeneration plant, the revamp of Tank Farm 2 to improve jet-fuel supply, new remote apron stands for large aircraft and the refurbishment of Terminal A.

King Shaka International Airport has an estimated R6-billion project pipeline. 

George Airport is receiving a R3.6-billion investment until the end of the 2031 financial year. Its R974-million terminal expansion is expected to double yearly capacity, from one-million to two-million passengers.

The project pipelines until the end of the 2031 financial year are estimated at R729-million for Bram Fischer International Airport, R3.7-billion for Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport and R1.3-billion for King Phalo Airport. The Chief Dawid Stuurman terminal upgrade is expected to be delivered by February 2031, while King Phalo’s R450-million departure-lounge expansion is due for completion in June 2029.

Planned Start/End Date
The current project pipelines run mainly to the end of 2031, with supporting works at OR Tambo International Airport extending to 2032 and the King Shaka International Airport terminal expansion scheduled until the 2034 financial year.

The implementation of the Midfield Cargo Complex is expected to start in about mid-2027, subject to final approvals, with construction estimated to take about 53 months. The broader supporting-infrastructure programme will be implemented in phases until 2032.

The King Shaka International Airport terminal expansion is scheduled from the 2030 to 2034 financial years, while a fuel trigeneration plant is planned from the 2028 to 2032 financial years, and a fixed-base operations facility from the 2028 financial year to the end of the 2031 financial year.

Latest Developments
The Midfield Cargo Complex is progressing through planning, regulatory and design-refinement stages.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
ACSA, tel +27 11 723 1400 or email Mediadesk@airports.co.za.