The Cape Winelands Airport off Lichtenburg Road is located 12 km outside of Durbanville. Photo: Henk Kruger.
The Cape Winelands Airport, formerly known as Fisantekraal Airfield, could stimulate job creation and attract tourists once the planned upgrades become a reality, according to the airport’s director, Mark Wilkinson.
The 150ha airfield, located off Lichtenburg Road, was established in 1943 for the country’s air force, according to the airport’s website.
"The airfield is one of Cape Town’s oldest airports and was under government control until 1993 when it was first sold to private owners. In 2020, Nick Ferguson, the managing director for the group rsa.AERO, and other investors, purchased the airport land,“ said Mr Wilkinson.
“Since then, a team of private experienced commercial entrepreneurs and airport specialists have come together to address an important need to developing smaller and undeveloped regional airports with the aim of transforming them into high impact drivers of economic growth, starting with Cape Winelands Airport.”
At this stage, the upgrades are still in the planning phase.
“The infrastructure development plans will include the extension of one of the runways and the development of related airport infrastructure such as taxiways, aircraft parking bays and a boutique terminal building,” said Mr Wilkinson.
“The team has done extensive planning, having worked with international aviation specialists to develop a viable land-use plan. The nature of the infrastructure development plans requires an environmental impact assessment. This is currently under way and includes initial baseline studies.”
However, a public participation process will be triggered for the impact assessment of the upgrades.
“Given this, there is not much more information that can be shared at this point. However, in the coming months during the public participation process, much more detail will be shared by the independent environmental practitioners,” said Mr Wilkinson.
The planned upgrades were still many years away from commencing and were pending approvals, he said.
“We are unable to provide indications of associated infrastructure costs as this is dependent on multiple variables, most notable the approvals of the EIA,” he said.
The airport is currently operational and largely serving the general aviation market as a site for flight training as well as private and charter flying.
“Airports are known to have a multiplier effect, and we do believe that the project will stimulate much-needed job creation and will enhance the tourism proposition of the region. It is important to us that the communities closest to the airport are the major benefactors, something that will be fully integrated into our plans.”
Ward 105 councillor Ruan Beneke who oversees Sub-council 7 and the Fisantekraal area, also believes the project will help stimulate job creation.
“The new airport will obviously bring some primary job opportunities for Fisantekraal residents at the airport itself. However, the secondary jobs created in the supply chain for airport services and products used in and around Durbanville will be so much bigger,” Mr Beneke said.