Cape Winelands Airport, previously championed by SA billionaire Rob Hersov, nears final approval

Cape Winelands Airport, a $500 million privately funded aviation project once championed by South African businessman Rob Hersov before his 2023 exit, is moving closer to groundbreaking in the Western Cape, pending final regulatory approval.

The project is now led by Nicholas Ferguson, managing director of RSA Aero, and is located at Fisantekraal, north of Durbanville. It is awaiting final clearance, with construction expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Scheduled to open in 2028, the airport will include a 3,500-meter Code 4F runway designed to handle wide-body aircraft such as the Airbus A380. The master plan has expanded to 880 hectares, up from the initial 150-hectare acquisition completed in 2021.

Strategic alternative to Cape Town International
Cape Winelands Airport, previously known as Fisantekraal Airfield, is positioned as a secondary hub to Cape Town, offering airlines a diversion option just 25 kilometers away. 

Currently, long-haul carriers must carry additional fuel to allow rerouting to distant airports such as Johannesburg or Durban, increasing costs and emissions. Developers estimate the new airport could reduce operating costs by about 5% per flight while cutting carbon output.

Job creation and passenger projections
Project backers estimate 35,000 direct and indirect jobs during the initial phases, rising to more than 100,000 over two decades. Phase one is expected to handle between 1.7 million and 2.5 million passengers annually by 2032.

Construction firm WBHO has taken both contractor and equity positions, aligning capital exposure with delivery performance. Growthpoint Properties will oversee long-term property and logistics management across hospitality and commercial segments.

Competitive implications
If approved, the airport could challenge Airports Company South Africa’s dominance in the Western Cape aviation market. 

Unlike most domestic airports, the project plans to install independent navigation infrastructure rather than rely solely on state-operated air traffic systems.

With regulatory approval now the final hurdle, the aviation bet represents one of the largest privately funded infrastructure plays in the region in recent years.

Note: With new information from development authorities, Shore.Africa updated the headline to reflect South African billionaire Rob Hersov’s previous role and Nicholas Ferguson’s current role.