At the 2024 Aviation Africa Summit, held in Sandton, Gauteng from 16-17 September, Mpumi Mpofu, CEO of Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), emphasized that African airports are the backbone of the continent’s burgeoning aviation industry. ACSA, which manages nine airports, is at the forefront of this growth.
Mpofu highlighted the increasing economic performance of several middle-income African countries as a driving force behind the development of airport infrastructure. This growing economic strength offers significant opportunities, particularly in the cargo sector, with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presenting the most substantial prospects. “Only 11% of Africa’s trade is intra-continental,” she pointed out, “which means there’s a tremendous opportunity to enhance connectivity and increase air traffic within Africa.”
Tourism also plays a pivotal role in the continent’s airport development. Mpofu noted the rise of specialized point-to-point tourism, particularly from Europe, with more direct flights to specific destinations. Safari tourism, in particular, has contributed to increased traffic, with direct flights now available from Europe to Kruger National Park.
The focus, according to Mpofu, is on ensuring efficiency and financial sustainability. ACSA is fostering strategic partnerships across the ecosystem to attract efficiency gains. Airports across Africa, especially after the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, have had to rethink their financial strategies, prioritizing joint ventures, equity acquisitions, and partnerships to ensure long-term resilience.
Infrastructure development remains a priority for African airports. Mpofu mentioned that OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg has a capacity of 28 million passengers, Cape Town 15 million, and King Shaka 7 million. On the larger scale, Angola recently built an airport with a capacity of 15 million passengers, and Ethiopia is currently constructing a 150-million passenger airport near Addis Ababa—transformative projects for Africa’s global aviation presence.
Airports are not only critical for transportation but also for regional integration, job creation, and socio-economic growth. ACSA takes pride in its contribution to local communities and its leading role in generating non-aeronautical revenue. Mpofu revealed that ACSA generates more revenue from non-aeronautical sources such as retail, hotels, parking, advertising, and duty-free sales than from traditional aeronautical services.
Additionally, the cargo sector presents an exciting growth area, with ACSA planning to open a new midfield cargo terminal within the next five years. Regional airports in ACSA’s portfolio, including King Phalo and George airports, are also slated for expansion and modernization, with a planned R21 billion investment—the largest since 2010—into refurbishment and expansion projects.
Mpofu concluded by stressing the need for airports to continue diversifying revenue streams, increasing airline frequencies, and supporting the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), which will be crucial for unlocking Africa’s full aviation potential.
