Cape Town International Airport’s R7 billion overhaul which will include a new runway, and new international and domestic departure lounges is due to be completed by 2023.
Construction on the four-year project is set to start in early 2020.
In a presentation, Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) said the expansion is necessary to meet growing demand at the airport.
According to Acsa the realigned 3,500 metre runway will allow larger aircraft – including the world’s largest passenger airline, the Airbus A380 – to land at the airport.
That part of the project will also allow the future expansion of the airport terminal towards the runway, to accommodate additional aircraft.
For Acsa the highlight of the project will be a R688-million expansion of the domestic arrivals terminal, with more baggage collection carousels being added.
Acsa said, the international terminal will soon reach capacity, necessitating the construction of a second terminal at a cost of R2.8 billion.
Acsa spokesperson Deidre Davids said that passenger disruption will be kept to a minimum.
“While we will do our best to limit the disruption and impact on passengers, we ask in advance that airport users please bear with us – any discomfort experienced will be well worth.”
Western Cape Economic MEC Beverley Schafer said airline expansions is expected to add R620 million worth of spend to the provincial tourism industry, which already sustains 300,000 jobs.
More: businessinsider