R7,2 Billion Investment Planned to Transform Wonderboom Airport into Aviation and Logistics Hub

The City of Tshwane expects to complete an airport master plan by December, paving the way to turn Wonderboom National Airport into what it says will be “a world-class aviation and logistics hub”.

The MMC for roads and transport, Tlangi Mogale, said the metro was in discussions with Acsa about upgrading the airport to reintroduce commercial flights between Pretoria and Cape Town.

This comes after Tshwane Deputy Mayor, Eugene Modise, mentioned the metro’s intentions to reintroduce domestic flights out of Wonderboom.

No privatisation plans

Flights between Pretoria and Cape Town were halted in 2018 due to profitability concerns. Since then, various stakeholders have suggested that the airport be privatised.

However, Mogale said there were no plans to sell or privatise the airport, but that it would instead seek investment partners while retaining ownership. The metro has budgeted R7,2 billion to upgrade the airport.

Licensing in progress

Spokesperson of the Tshwane metro, Lindela Mashigo, said Wonderboom’s Air Service Licence needed to be renewed with the Air Services Licensing Council, which could take up to four months.

It then needs to acquire an Air Operator Certificate from the SA Civil Aviation Authority before operations commence – a process of about a year.

He said the airport master plan would guide strategic direction and partnerships required to connect Wonderboom with other domestic destinations.