As part of its Airport Masterplan, Acsa is planning a second parallel runway at Cape Town International Airport (CPT) alongside the current runway realignment project. However, due to complexities around land use and community impact, the project is unlikely to begin within the next 10 years.
“The second runway at CPT is a strategic initiative as per the Airport Masterplan to achieve an ultimate capacity of 40-45 million passengers annually,” explained an Acsa spokesperson.
While the runway realignment was a critical step to enhancing immediate operational efficiency, said Acsa, the planning for a second parallel runway was envisaged as a vital long-term project to unlock CPT’s full potential.
In line with the best practices for airport planning, the project aims to increase capacity, reduce delays, and provide operational resilience. Acsa said it would benefit the airport by accommodating growing air traffic while offering airlines greater scheduling flexibility and the ability to serve more routes efficiently.
Acsa indicated that the Masterplan’s framework outlined the airport’s capacity evolution for the current five-year business cycle and analysed the feasibility and implementation of projects to meet future demand.
For this reason, the second runway project at CPT is not within the current 10-year horizon.
“This strategic planning for the future runway ensures the airport will meet future demand and sustain its role as a key economic gateway,” said Acsa.
The airports company said it would work closely with local government, communities and key stakeholders to ensure that relevant land-use frameworks and legislation were considered as part of its comprehensive planning to minimise the impact on surrounding communities.
The Environmental Impact Assessment for the second runway is expected to commence toward the end of the next 10-year period.
“CPT is well-positioned to meet Cape Town’s aviation and traffic demands for the foreseeable future, with existing infrastructure and planned enhancements ensuring robust capacity well beyond a 50-year horizon,” said Acsa.
