Cape Winelands Airport Advances After Environmental Clearance, Set to Become Cape Town’s Second Major Hub by 2028

Cape Winelands Airport is rapidly progressing toward becoming Cape Town’s second major commercial airport, transforming the historic Fisantekraal Airfield into a modern aviation and logistics hub on the northern outskirts of the city. Located 13 km north-east of Durbanville in the Western Cape, the privately owned facility aims to ease pressure on Cape Town International Airport while driving economic growth through passenger, cargo, and commercial development.

Owned and operated by RSA Aero, the project has secured Growthpoint Properties as an equity partner and the development and managing partner for the wider aviation precinct. Growthpoint will handle property and asset management for logistics, commercial, and hospitality elements, excluding the terminal buildings themselves. This partnership positions the airport as a comprehensive precinct rather than a standalone runway facility.

The site has deep roots in South African aviation history. Established in 1943 as a South African Air Force base for Lockheed Ventura bombers, Fisantekraal Airfield has long served general aviation and flight training. Cape Winelands Airport will elevate it to support scheduled domestic and international passenger and cargo flights, general aviation, alternate and reliever functions, logistics, and related commercial property. Planners project it will handle two million international tourists and three million domestic travellers annually by 2050, effectively doubling the region’s overall passenger traffic from 10 million to 20 million a year.

Infrastructure plans are ambitious yet carefully phased. Construction will deliver a new boutique terminal featuring state-of-the-art, technology-led check-in, baggage handling, and security systems. The airfield currently has four runways; one will be realigned and extended into a Code 4F runway capable of accommodating wide-body aircraft. A secondary 700 m runway will primarily serve smaller aircraft in crosswind conditions. Additional elements include aircraft parking stands, upgraded airside systems, a cargo processing facility, more hangars, fuelling infrastructure, warehousing and logistics facilities, hotel accommodation, and a heliport.

The 450-hectare developable estate surrounding the airside operations will support broader logistics, commercial, and hospitality activities. Lead architect Boogertman + Partners, working with Berlin-based airport specialist amd.sigma, has developed a 2026 concept that roots the terminal form in the Winelands and Swartland landscape. The undulating glass-and-steel design supports phased expansion while targeting high environmental standards and leading ratings and certifications. The visual language intentionally blends the complex with the region’s topography and agricultural character.

Job creation figures underscore the project’s scale. During construction and expansion phases, it could sustain about 35 000 direct and indirect jobs. Over the first 20 years of operation, that number rises to just more than 100 000 direct and indirect jobs. Initial capital expenditure is estimated at between R8-billion and R10-billion.

Timeline milestones are now clearer following regulatory progress. Cape Winelands Airport received environmental authorisation from the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning on 27 October 2025. Six appeals followed; one was withdrawn and the remaining five dismissed in 2026, closing the appeals process. Subject to remaining regulatory and licensing steps, enablement works for the first phase of construction are expected to begin in the last quarter of 2026, with airport commissioning targeted for the latter part of 2028. WBHO remains the appointed contractor for technical development and construction of the airport complex.

A notable recent development is the cooperation agreement between Cape Winelands Airport and Stellenbosch University. The partnership advances “smart” and “green” development linked to the expansion. Focus areas include agriculture and food processing, spatial planning, transport and logistics, space and aviation research, and the integration of airport operations with urban development. It is expected to create applied research opportunities, including potential master’s-level engineering management projects, as well as testing, innovation, prototyping, and future production spaces connected to aviation, infrastructure, logistics, and smart technologies. This academic-industry link aims to embed research excellence directly into the precinct’s long-term evolution.

The project’s private-sector leadership, combined with Growthpoint’s long-term management role for the non-terminal precinct components, provides a clear delivery structure. While the build programme remains contingent on final regulatory and licensing processes, the dismissal of appeals and the appointment of key professional teams—Boogertman + Partners, amd.sigma, and WBHO—signal strong momentum. Once operational, Cape Winelands Airport is positioned not only to serve as a vital reliever and growth airport for the Cape Town region but also to catalyse logistics, tourism, and knowledge-economy opportunities across the northern Winelands and Swartland corridor.

By prioritising environmental performance, landscape-sensitive design, and university collaboration, the development seeks to set a new benchmark for airport precincts in South Africa. Residents, businesses, and travellers stand to benefit from improved connectivity, substantial employment, and a modern facility that respects its agricultural setting while meeting international aviation standards.