Long-awaited upgrades at Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) are set to start in 2026 with a view to completion by 2029.

Speaking at the recent arrival of the first Norse Atlantic Airways flight in Cape Town, ACSA Regional General Manager Mark Maclean said CTIA is growing exceptionally well with a 15% plus increase in international passengers compared to 2019.

He said the airline arrived at an exciting time when there is growth and investment earmarked for the airport.

The upgrades will be funded by ACSA’s R21.7 billion (€114.2 million) infrastructure fund, announced earlier this year, for overhauls of CTIA as well as the OR Tambo (Johannesburg), Chief Dawid Stuurman (Gqeberha) and King Phalo (East London) airports.

“ACSA has a massive investment programme for the next five years and we require a significant portion of that. We will be building a new realigned 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,” Maclean said.

This is over and above other refurbishments at the same time.

Maclean said ACSA is preparing to invite tenders from consultants ahead of selecting contractors.

In the meantime, CTIA is upgrading its security and self-service facilities.

“We are placing full-body scanners at security points, expanding our self-service boarding and immigration facilities and plan to introduce other technological improvements,” explained Maclean.

The upgrades were due to begin in 2020 at a cost of R7 billion (€36 million), including runway expansion for large aircraft like the Airbus A380 and larger terminals, but this was delayed by COVID and subsequent recovery periods.

The airport’s last, large-scale upgrade was undertaken in the run up to the 2010 World Cup when a new R1.6 billion (€82 million) central terminal was built.