The Cape Winelands Airport, previously known as the Fisantekraal Airfield, could offer local and international flights in 2027, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Also read: Cape Winelands Airport company reveals plans to manage variety of SA airports
The 15-hectare site, located 13km north-east of Durbanville, was built in 1943 to serve as an operational base for the South African Air Force. It had four runways and hosted Lockheed Ventura bombers during World War II.
It was acquired by private investors in November 2020 and is now owned and operated by RSA.Aero. It serves as a general aviation facility and is a popular spot for flight training.
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Plans to transform the Cape Winelands Airport into a prime travel hub include an R7 billion redevelopment and expansion plan. The primary runway will be expanded and realigned to 3 500 metres and a passenger terminal to accommodate 5.2 million annual passengers will be built.
Other developments include cargo terminals, aircraft hangars, a hotel, a heliport, warehousing, logistics facilities and a commercial real estate development.
‘We are eagerly anticipating our future role in the city’s dynamic travel and tourism landscape,’ the airport said.
These construction plans are due to start next year if all goes to plan. ‘If all our applications are approved, we will begin transforming the airport by realigning the runway, adding new airside infrastructure, and constructing a boutique terminal.’
The airport said on 8 August 2024 that its environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the site was underway.
The Cape Winelands Airport also plans to implement sustainability trends via eco-friendly practices and technologies, such as through the use of groundwater resources, powering operations through renewable energy, and having an eco-friendly design.
As reported by BusinessTech, the Cape Winelands Airport could replace OR Tambo as the airline’s alternative destination. This is because the European Union Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) and other regulators require airlines to carry destination alternate fuel.
The alternative airport to Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) is OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, meaning that the alternate airports carry a large amount of extra fuel.
According to the airport, its proximity to CTIA offers a more viable alternate airport for diversion planning.
In addition, Cape Winelands Airport is set to cut fuel consumption and carbon emissions significantly, with a reduction of up to 10 000kg of fuel per flight.
Independent estimates indicate that this change could save airlines millions of kilogrammes of fuel overall and enhance their cargo capacity.
The new measures will also increase capacity, enhance redundancy and address inefficiencies at Cape Town International Airport.
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Picture: Cape Winelands Airport / Facebook
