Cape Winelands Airport’s big plans: Premier diversion hub, doubling tourist numbers - Nick Ferguson

There is a buzz in Cape Town about the development of the new Cape Winelands Airport near Durbanville with the City Council throwing its weight behind the development. The site for the new Cape Winelands Airport near Durbanville in the Cape has an interesting history as it was chosen and built by the Allied Forces during WWII. After it was required in 2020, the consortium of private owners set out to expand the airport to turn it into a transport hub and springboard for tourism in the region. In an interview with Biznews, the Director of the Cape Winelands Airport Nick Ferguson said they were a step closer to reality with the first phase of the consultation process completed. The Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) has objected to the development. The airport is set to launch its first flights in early 2027, ultimately offering a unique airport experience that includes wine tasting, a vineyard, and an outdoor amphitheatre. He also shared their strategy to initially position Winelands Airport as a cost-effective alternative destination for airlines who are currently burdened with carrying extra fuel when flying to Cape Town because their nearest diversion destination is O.R Tambo, located 2 hours north. This move not only promises financial benefits to airlines but also a significant reduction in carbon emissions. This strategic shift could potentially earn Winelands Airport the title of the World’s Greenest Airport.
Video production by Frances Hamman
Your early morning brew of the BizNews Insider keeps you up to speed with the content that matters. The newsletter will land in your inbox at 5:30am weekdays. Register here - bit.ly/3lfVRYP.
---
Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction
00:36 - Plans for Cape wineland airport
02:14 - Capetown endorsement
03:03 - Airports history
04:04 - Alternative destination airport
10:27 - Response from airlines
12:10 - Other facilities at the airport
14:03 - Anchor airline
16:10 - Investors
16:29 - Impact on tourism in the western Cape
17:06 - The team
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @biznewstv

[@karthi7016]

Western cape should take over the harbour, railways and police too

[@lm_b5080]

cape town is in a great space to become the economic hub of the country in the next 20 years. capital is flowing in & there is trust in governance

[@LeadingLight481]

Go team go, just watched a bunch of Rob Hersov's interviews, got some talent behind this epic operation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@peterclark8208]

This sounds a very interesting project, I hope it goes ahead! British Airways sometimes use Bloemfontein as a fuel alternate, then Johannesburg, Durban and even Gaborone ! Nicks figures are about right … 11.9 tonnes diversion fuel for Gaborone, 12.1 tonnes for JNB and 12.9 tonnes extra for Durban. It would be a great saving for the airlines…

[@christinefinniss6263]

Great project. 🤙

[@JK0628]

Excellent 🎉 And these guys know business.

[@boycematoti5881]

Any improvement in a country's infrastructure is always welcomed. I am always excited by the improvement of South Africa. If this brilliant idea will work, it will be plus for South Africa. Go for it guys and let us make sure you involve the communities around that site. I stay around the airport in Gugs, when there is a problem on N2, its chaos for the flights. As mych as the idea is a good one, but there is a lot to consider here. Good luck gius.

[@michaeltownsend4644]

Power project. Hopefully it gets the green lights

[@markmcculloch2570]

Wow ! Been planning for thee years. Brilliant. The anc could not plan forward for three days.

[@gerhardlesch3615]

How are you going to prevent the menace of squatters choking the airport?

[@simonsbergblinds7532]

Great plan.I stay in Durbanville, it will work.

[@christiaancoetzee2964]

Totally against this terrible proposal. Imagine the pollution (fumes and noise). Durbanville (where we pay premium rates) will end up looking like the areas surrounding Cape Town airport. It will become an industrial area with all the associated pollution and noise and trigger a huge migration of people, looking for work, to an area already experiencing congestion problems. This all just to satisfy the greed of a few. This needs to be stopped.

[@cornemouton2740]

Kruip terug onder jou klip in.

[@domperignon1607]

It,s overdue that the privileged few burden Western Province success.. Cape flats has carried this success and reaped no benefits of it..

[@bonelelamene7918]

You are dreaming. Cpt is not yours. People can leave and work anywhere they want to in this country fool.

[@terribaldin2291]

Amazing!!!!!!!!!!

[@johnsanby6639]

Dreaming!!

[@deanchapman2302]

The 2005 IDP changed the alternate airport to the Atlantis area. When Patricia deLille became the DA spokesman, that idea was canned in 2015 on the IDP. It's great that the first proposed alternative, which fitted in with my planning of the Blue Downs Railway line.

[@Ziyaggy]

Should think about adding a F1 track

[@pieterjordaan73]

....at least ...progress....jobs...jobs.. Well done to all involve.... Just be aware of the corrupt ANC comrades...

[@ronelpeens7366]

ja BEWARE OF THE COMRADES

[@grahamleigh8398]

@@ronelpeens7366. Vote Cape Independence.

[@janco333]

The comrades need to eat.

[@petrusesterhuyzen2087]

Did Bob Hersov not mention and back this?

[@thecatat7]

Why not show us a map of the area where the airport is planned ?

[@Mimeniia]

They mention it in the video. 03:03

[@deanchapman2302]

It's been shown on local plans for decades and the space has been reserved similar to the Blue Downs rail connection.

[@edwinnetto6248]

Legally an aircraft must carry an amount of excess fuel so how can this be adjusted for the contribution? Maybe the saving is that the aircraft doesn't have to be in holding pattern so burn less fuel, however they cannot carry less fuel than legally prescribed so no saving or more alternative cargo capacity because of less fuel weight?

[@christinejacobs2876]

This is needed. Old Cape Town Airport needs to closed down or upgrade surrounding areas. Tourism will boost again.

[@peterkoning21]

This does sound fantastic and I'm sure it will be a success....but NIck, you will have to become more erudite in selling & promoting this airport.

[@DannyK9]

Sounds exciting but having stayed a few nights close to airports in both Johannesburg & the UK, I can confirm it's seriously noisy & unpleasant! 🙉 (air pollution not exactly great either) Are the residents of Durbanville & surrounds going to be affected? What about their quality of life? What about their property values... up or down? 🤷🏽‍♂️ Just asking...

[@grahamleigh8398]

Wear earplugs. Why always a “BUT”?

[@audioshark5292]

There is always one....

[@deanchapman2302]

The EIA will address all these concerns. This is not new. I was involved with the planning of an alternate airport in my role as Transport Planner, representing Transnet in the 1980's and 1990's. CoCT opposed it in those days, and consultants came up with vague technical reasons to stop the proposal introduced by the NP.

[@trevorjones4299]

CoT doesn't give a shit about the residents of Durbanville. I live there. I know.

[@trevorjones4299]

@@grahamleigh8398 Move next to an airport and come comment again.

[@rjclarkewp]

Worried about the environmental impact this might have as well as the pollution in the area 🤔

[@oupahens9219]

Would be nice, if only private planes can land there. Just to keep the riff raff out of that beautiful area.

[@oupahens9219]

Next thing would be that, like in Martha's Vineyard, a right wing Zama will direct captured Malawian's to this pristine neighborhood.

[@anikaswartz1712]

Riff Raff? 😮😮😮

[@AnonYmous-vu1lw]

@AnonYmous-vu1lw 0 seconds ago I’m no genius. But you don’t have to be one to know that airports and beautiful parts of the world don’t really synergise well. Why the flip would you add all that machinery pollution and noise to your winelands?! Stinks of cash and nothing else. Politicians giving it the nod, is a good signal to others to do otherwise.

[@wayne975]

A Winelands airport is nuts rather build up West Coast.

[@nomadicleopard]

100% all of this could have gone to more meaningful economic ventures in the Western Cape.

[@veronicakarstel9126]

Existing old airport already there

[@veronicakarstel9126]

At least tourists don't have to be close to townships

[@veronicakarstel9126]

Next move if ANC gutterment allows but hopefully they will be voted out in 2024

[@wayne975]

@@veronicakarstel9126 Never mind the controlled airspace that will affect at least 3 civil airports.

[@Mimeniia]

Mmmmmmm, CapXit is taking shape slowly. EDIT: The proposed area is not going to work for the majority of Cape Town especially if it is going to be the main Airport. The 'people' continuing getting shafted with low QoL.

[@angiemac8066]

😂😂😂

[@kenernstzen2407]

What a bs idea!

[@boycematoti5881]

I understand your feelings. Can you please elaborate why you think it's not a viable idea.

[@petervanne1578]

Leave political parties out of this, it was never their or the cities idea.

[@bonelelamene7918]

Nice dreams 😂