South Africa is a hub for trade and tourism development, and so the country’s airports remain a vital part in delivering transport, goods and economic growth to the region. Thus, to support the airline industry, a key driver of economic development, Airports Company South Africa SOC Ltd. (ACSA) was established to oversee, manage, and develop world-class airports in South Africa, bringing significant social and economic benefits to all sector stakeholders across the country. With the airline industry experiencing increasing demand in recent years, ACSA is poised to deliver vital redevelopment and expansion projects that will connect the airports across the country and promote South Africa as a hub for global connectivity.
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ACSA was established in 1993 under the Airport Company Act, No.44, and is mandated to oversee the South African airline industry and aviation sector. As part of this role, ACSA is responsible for the acquisition, establishment and development of airports across the country. Then, ACSA focuses its operations on the provision, maintenance, management and operation of these airports to deliver them as vital hubs for tourism and trade development. The South African Government holds a 74.6% majority share in ACSA, to help shape the function and development of South Africa’s airports for the future.
Today, ACSA owns and operates all 9 of South Africa’s principal airports, which include Cape Town International Airport, O.R. Tambo International, King Shaka International, Bram Fischer International, Chief Dawid Stuurman International, Upington International, King Phalo Airport, George Airport and Kimberly Airport. Thus, with such a vital network of airports under its operation, ACSA has positioned itself as a leader in Africa’s aviation industry, on a mission to be the most sought-after partner in the world for the provision of airport management solutions by 2030.
One of the most significant airports under ACSA is the Cape Town International Airport (CTIA), which is the 3rd largest airport in the country. As the primary airport serving Cape Town, it has gained a reputation over the years as Africa’s premier international award-winning airport, due to its consistent delivery of excellent airport services. Annually, the airport sees a growing number of passengers travelling through CTIA, as more flight routes and direct connections are added to the existing 29 domestic and international airlines that arrive and depart from the airport. Connecting to airlines across the globe, CTIA can be used to access the Middle East, Europe and Asia from its hub at the southernmost tip of Africa.
CTIA is not just a dynamic airport for its growing passenger numbers, but for the significant impact it has on the local economy. With every plane that lands in South Africa, it brings with it a wealth of passengers primed to utilise the port’s facilities, as well as the restaurants, hotels, and retail locations across the capital. Thus, every flight boosts the local economy and, in the process, helps deliver more job opportunities across these sectors for the local community. Therefore, a key focus for ACSA is on increasing the number of flights coming to the airports, whilst also enhancing airport facilities, as this will help deliver the airport as a thriving hub of socio-economic development.
ACSA is involved in increasing the number of flights at CTIA and improving airline access as part of the Cape Town Air Access Initiative. This initiative is in partnership between 6 government entities, including the Western Cape Government, the City of Cape Town, Cape Town Tourism, Wesgro, Southern African Tourism and ACSA. The private sector partners in the initiatives provide funding towards the project, whilst also offering an advisory role to guide the direction of the initiative. The central operations of the initiative include the establishment of new routes, expanding existing routes, and retaining current routes for the airport. By focusing on developing and enhancing the existing flight routes leaving and arriving at CTIA, these governmental figures, alongside ACSA, are helping to deliver the airport as a thriving hub for aviation services across South Africa.
In 2025, ACSA announced that it would be commencing vital upgrades to CTIA, set to start in 2026. The upgrade, funded by ACSA, will see part of its R21.6 billion infrastructure fund allocated to the development of CTIA. According to Mark Maclean, ACSA Regional Manager, “ACSA has a massive investment programme for the next 5 years, and we require a significant portion of that. We will be building a new re-aligned runway, which is a big project, revamping and extending the domestic terminal and creating additional international and domestic contact stands while expanding the international terminal footprint.” In addition to this, the investment will be used to deliver security upgrades, including a full-body scanner, as well as expansions to its self-service boarding and immigration facilities. All of these are planned to be upgraded with technological improvements in mind, too. These developments are planned to commence in 2026 and are expected to be completed by 2029. As we can see from Maclean’s comments, these development plans will help to vastly increase the footprint of the airport and will be met with leading technological advancements to position CTIA as a leading and advanced airport serving South Africa.
With multiple airports under its operations, ACSA draws on its wealth of experience across South African airports to deliver the vital infrastructure and development plans needed to position each airport as a vital destination for long-haul and short-haul flights. With CTIA as a prime example, ACSA is committed to enhancing its infrastructure to deliver better airport experiences that help maintain its competitiveness in global markets. Through vital investments, ACSA is extending the network of South Africa’s airports, all whilst aligning the company with the nation’s goals for transformation, sustainable growth and value creation. We look forward to seeing how ACSA’s development of its airports, including CTIA, will continue to improve each airport’s respective operations and work as part of the company’s cohesive approach to delivering success for South Africa’s trade and tourism markets.
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