Plans for Cape Town’s long-awaited second international airport have cleared a major hurdle, with developers confirming that an Environmental Authorisation (EA) application has now been formally submitted, bringing the city one step closer to a major aviation and infrastructure breakthrough.
The announcement was made at a recent networking event held at the Groot Phesantekraal Wine Estate in Durbanville, where aviation leaders, developers and government representatives gathered to discuss the airport’s progress and wider regional development.
The project, dubbed the Cape Winelands Airport, is being spearheaded by RSA.aero, a group made up of aviation industry veterans. The consortium has already made moves in the space, having recently acquired the Gariep Airport. According to Managing Director Deon Cloete, this is just the beginning of a broader push to expand South Africa’s aviation network.
‘We have officially submitted the EA application,’ Cloete confirmed during the meeting, adding that the final verdict from authorities is expected before the end of the year. ‘This is the result of five years of groundwork.’
The Cape Winelands Airport is earmarked for the Joostenberg area, a semi-rural hub on the outskirts of Cape Town, as reported by the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The location has been strategically chosen for its accessibility, growth potential and ability to relieve congestion at the city’s main international airport.
Cloete also revealed that a specialised finance team is now evaluating funding offers, with the aim of positioning the airport to process over five million passengers annually by 2050. If successful, the facility would transform the region’s mobility landscape and serve the needs of a rapidly urbanising population.
Urban planners and economists are already looking ahead. Jeremy Wiley from the Western Cape Property Development Forum warned that the city’s population is projected to surpass 10 million by 2050, qualifying it as a megacity.
‘Cape Town’s growth is accelerating. The challenge now is to prepare infrastructure fast enough to accommodate that,’ Wiley said. He also commended local leadership for recognising the urgency, pointing out that Cape Town’s relatively lower unemployment rate compared to the national average is a sign of sound management.
Representing the City’s urban mobility committee, Mikhail Manuel stressed that the new airport was more than just a transport hub; it’s a launchpad for economic development.
‘The Joostenberg node is on the brink of massive transformation. We’re talking about real investment, real jobs and real growth over the next five to ten years,’ said Manuel. ‘The City is fully behind this.’
While no construction date has been announced, the mood among stakeholders is one of cautious optimism, with hopes that this long-discussed second airport could soon be a concrete reality.
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Picture: Cape Winelands Airport / Facebook
