Johannesburg | 25 August 2025 — South Africa’s state-run Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa) is gearing up for a R21.7 billion ($1.2 billion) infrastructure overhaul, with plans to raise half the amount through long-term debt instruments and concessional loans over the next 12 months, according to the company’s Chief Financial Officer, Luzuko Mbotya.
In an interview on Monday, Mbotya said Acsa’s strengthened financial standing has significantly improved its credit appeal, attracting interest from both local and international lenders.
“We’ve seen quite a huge appetite towards Acsa,” he said. “We are now in a much stronger position to secure the most competitive financing options for the R10 billion we aim to raise.”
Acsa’s net profit surged to R1.1 billion in the financial year ending March 2025, more than doubling from the previous period. The company also holds a cash reserve of R5.9 billion, which it plans to use to fund the remaining portion of the infrastructure plan.
Major Projects Underway Through 2032
The capital expenditure program includes wide-scale modernization and refurbishment across Acsa’s airport network. Among the headline projects is a new cargo terminal at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, slated for completion between 2028 and 2029, with an estimated investment of R5.7 billion.
“We have now started and approved the enablement works,” said Acsa CEO Mpumi Mpofu during the company’s earnings presentation.
For the 2025–26 financial year alone, Acsa has earmarked R2.3 billion for rehabilitation and upgrade works—more than triple the R727 million spent in the previous cycle.
Cape Town Airport Expansion Also in Focus
Beyond OR Tambo, Acsa is targeting major improvements at Cape Town International Airport, including an expansion of the domestic departure lounge, main runway upgrades, and refurbishments to domestic arrival gates.
The modernization drive comes as the company seeks to resolve persistent operational inefficiencies and service disruptions that have hampered performance in recent years.
Acsa’s push to revamp airport infrastructure aims not only to boost operational resilience but also to meet growing passenger and cargo demands through 2032.
