On the back of its busiest season yet, a ZAR9 billion multi-year construction project is set to begin at the Cape Town International Airport.

Upgrades include a ZAR6.1 billion expansion of the airport’s runway, as well as buildng a new ZAR2.4 billion domestic terminal, expanding the international terminal and upgrading security infrastructure, reports Newsday.

The Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa), the state company that owns and operates nine of the country’s key airports, says construction at the Cape Town airport will begin in March 2026 and last three years.

However, it says the construction work will be phased in a bid to create the least amount of disruption to passengers. For example, temporary shelters and facilities will be provided for travellers.

‘We really are expecting that passenger movement in the airport will be somewhat disrupted,’ said CEO Mpumi Mpofu,

‘But  […] we phase, and we schedule the works in a way that allows us to close off particular areas while we work on them,’ she said.

Between October 2025 and the end of January 2026, 11.7 million passengers passed through the airport, according to Acsa.

The upgrades at Cape Town International are part of Acsa’s broader ZAR21.7 billion investment into its airports. OR Tambo in Johannesburg is undergoing a five-year ZAR14.5 billion modernisation.

17 February 2026
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