Decision pending on Cape Winelands Airport's environmental assessment

Cape Winelands Airport is awaiting the outcome of its final Environmental Application Report, also known as an Environmental Impact Report (EIR), submitted in May, to greenlight the build of what is to become Cape Town’s own 'Lanseria International Airport'.

Managing Director of Cape Winelands Airport, Deon Cloete, who was also the former General Manager of Cape Town International Airport (CTIA), presented an update to several journalists regarding the development of another airport for the city.

Cape Winelands Airport, previously known as Fisantekraal Airport, has been in existence for over 80 years and is currently used for training and private aircraft charters, with four runways.

The airport will have a 3.5km runway, and they have also completed an application for an international licence, as “we hope to have some international services”.

Cloete said that they have been working on the airport’s grand plans for the last five years, and submitted the EIR in May this year, which was completed by an environmental practitioner who oversees their application.

“That submission has gone in, and after your submission, the competent authority has a timeline in which they have to make a decision, which is either ‘yes, this project can proceed’ or ‘no, this project can’t proceed’.

“We hope that decision will be coming through, approximately at the end of next month. That decision is a very important one, where we hope to get the green light for this project.”

Cloete said that there have been engagements with several funders for the project, and they expect the first build to cost between R8 billion - R10 billion.

“Airports are expensive because you put a lot of investment into the ground, but once you get it there, it will work for you for many years. It is about creating it.”

He added that they need about a two-year programme to build, if all goes well including funding and approvals, “we’re probably looking at opening in 2028”.

Cloete said that while they could have delivered their EIR sooner, they did not want to rush the project, and focused on the quality of their report as they “didn’t want to come back, and also wanted to make sure that when we deliver this end product, that it speaks to not just what our clients, the airlines, want, but how the communities would want to see it, because they have to own this airport with us”.

“You have to have that ownership model, and everyone has to buy into this airport. So we’re very grateful.”

He noted that people should not expect an airport as big as CTIA, but rather something much smaller, “as you would be moving quite fast through it”.

Cloete also anticipates that the airport would have a positive impact on the surrounding areas.

“We’ve spent a lot of time with our communities. There are some very poor communities near, where a lot of people sit without work, and we hope to change that. We think it is going to be an environment that is going to create various opportunities.

“What we really want to create is spaces where people, in one environment, can go to work, they can live, play and learn.”

Cloete explained that Cape Winelands Airport is strategically positioned to serve as an alternate airport for reserve fuel planning for airlines flying into Cape Town. While the airline's primary destination remains Cape Town International Airport, they designate Cape Winelands Airport as their alternate for reserve fuel considerations.

According to independently conducted research done by Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO), they expect the airport to have over a million passengers over the first three years, but eventually grow to over 5 million passengers per annum by 2050.

“With forecasts, they can come earlier or go later; it all depends. You regularly do reviews and consult. We probably will accelerate a bit quicker than that, mindful that Cape Town International Airport, currently, is sitting at almost 11 million passengers per annum, and that airport will grow to 20 million passengers by the time we get to 5 million.

“What we want to do is ensure that we can provide service to all the sectors within the aviation industry.”

He added that when it comes to global competitiveness, most international cities have at least two airports, “and that is very important as it creates capacity”.

He also said that in a situation where the airport would need to close, the impact on the economy would be huge “if you can’t reopen for a number of days because of whatever issue it might be, so with two airports, you would not disappoint (tourists)”.

* This article follows a Hosted Media Programme by South African Tourism.

Cape Times