Progress in the development of Cape Town's new airport
Cape Winelands Airport Takes a Significant Step Forward
The Cape Winelands Airport project has reached a critical milestone with the formal submission of its Environmental Authorisation (EA) application to relevant South African government authorities. This step, which follows five years of detailed planning and groundwork, marks a significant step towards expanding Cape Town's aviation infrastructure.
The R7 billion airport, planned for the Cape Winelands region, is expected to serve as a strategic alternative to Cape Town International Airport, helping to ease regional air traffic and boost tourism, trade, and economic development across the Western Cape.
In terms of funding, the airport developers have appointed a dedicated finance team tasked with managing investment and loan proposals. This is considered a vital phase in securing the necessary capital for the infrastructure investment. The project is actively evaluating funding offers but has not yet finalized financing.
Regarding the construction timeline, the precise start date depends on two key factors currently pending:
- Receipt of environmental approval (expected later in 2025)
- Securing adequate funding following investment approvals
Once these are cleared, construction can move to an advanced phase. The upcoming months are crucial for determining how quickly physical development can commence.
The airport, led by RSA.aero, a consortium of aviation industry veterans, is planned as Cape Town's second international airport to relieve congestion at Cape Town International Airport. It is situated on a 150-hectare site about 13 km northeast of Durbanville in the Cape Winelands region.
The announcement was made at a recent Chamber Chapter meeting at Groot Phesantekraal Wine Estate in Durbanville, and was reported by BusinessTech. Deon Cloete, Managing Director of the Cape Winelands Airport, confirmed that the airport's finance team is a critical step toward securing funding for the project.
A decision regarding the development of the Cape Winelands Airport is expected to be delivered later this year. Once approved, the airport is expected to become operational, further expanding Cape Town's aviation infrastructure and contributing to the growth and development of the Western Cape region.
[1] BusinessTech (2025). Cape Winelands Airport's EA application submitted. BusinessTech. Retrieved from https://www.businesstech.co.za/2025/08/cape-winelands-airports-ea-application-submitted/
[2] Cape Winelands Airport (2025). Project Overview. Cape Winelands Airport. Retrieved from https://capewinelandsairport.co.za/project-overview/
[3] Cape Winelands Airport (2025). About Us. Cape Winelands Airport. Retrieved from https://capewinelandsairport.co.za/about-us/
[4] News24 (2025). Cape Winelands Airport submits EA application. News24. Retrieved from https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/cape-winelands-airport-submits-ea-application-20250801
- The formation of the dedicated finance team for the Cape Winelands Airport project is a crucial step in securing the necessary capital, as the airport's developers are pursuing investments and loan proposals within the finance industry to fund this significant business venture.
- The completion of the Cape Winelands Airport will not only improve regional air traffic but also stimulate economic growth, trade, and tourism in the Western Cape region, thereby contributing to the overall development of the finance, business, and aviation industries.
