Global average airport infrastructure investment totalled US$800 billion (R14,7 trillion) in 2018, according to the Centre for Aviation (CAPA). However, in 2022, the report found it had dropped to about US$566 billion (R10,4 trillion), indicating airport investment and development took a back seat during the pandemic.
The airport development industry has had to refocus in four ways due to post-pandemic instability: operational resilience, the affordability of infrastructure, the deployment of new technologies and the need for sustainability.
Although African countries receive some of the least investment in the development of airports and the construction of new airports, the continent has many new airport projects, according to CAPA’s “Global airport construction and investment” report mid-2024.
Although Africa has very few general airport development projects underway, it has many new airport constructions, following Asia-Pacific in first place and Europe in second with the most new airport constructions.
In Africa, there are 24 known infrastructure projects at airports, worth a total of US$2,3 billion (R42,2 billion). Three South African airport developments placed in the top 10 existing projects in Africa, measured by investment:
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The development of Cape Winelands Airport placed second, worth US$371,8 million (R6,8 billion).
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OR Tambo’s Terminal A upgrade, taxiway upgrade and, new midfield terminal and runway placed fifth, worth US$250,6 million (R4,6 billion).
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Lanseria Airport placed seventh for the development of its new Air Traffic Control and airport city, as well as its terminal expansion, worth US$137,5 million (R2,5 billion).
Although Africa now boasts numerous large-scale new airport projects, including the new Addis Ababa International Airport, expected to open by the end of 2025, the report finds the other developments to be “tentative”.
Tentative development plans, combined with the effects of weak performance of Africa’s currencies are the reason the continent is receiving less investment for airport developments compared with other international airport projects, such as the Dubai World Central, the project receiving the most investment globally, to the tune of US$32,3 trillion (R592,2 trillion) for the construction of the new airport and its associated airport city.
Furthermore, in terms of other development projects such as the construction of new runways and terminals, Africa receives the least investment of any region.
