New CT runway set for 2023

Cape Town International Airport will have a new runway as well as new domestic and international departure lounges by no later than 2023. Addressing the Exporters’ Club Western Cape recently, Deon Cloete, general manager for the Cape Town International Airport, said an investment of around  R7 billion was being made as part of an expansion plan to create more capacity at the airport.
 He said part of the plan was to build a new realigned runway of 3500 metres enabling the airport to land larger aircraft such as the Airbus A380. This will cost around  R3.9 billion. The current runway will in time be removed completely but will remain as a taxi way for the foreseeable future. Plans have already been drawn up for a second runway parallel to the new one.
The new domestic  arrivals terminal will run as a pier on one side of the airport and the international terminal on the other. In the middle a third pier will be constructed that will be interchangeable between domestic and international. This, said Cloete, would allow for full utilisation of the facility as required. “The design is optimal and gives us the best possible capability and operational efficiency.” With more airlines flying directly to Cape Town and more route connectivity, the airport has been extremely stretched for some time. Cloete said the expansion would bring much-needed relief to operations. Construction  is expected to start early next year and be completed by no later than 2023. “We will be working on both sides of the airport  as well as on the runway but we are going to do our best to limit the disruption and impact on our passenger and cargo operations,” said Cloete