All You Need to Know About the Cape Winelands Airport

Currently operating as a smaller general aviation airfield (formerly known as Fisantekraal Airfield), Cape Winelands Airport sits about 13 km northeast of Durbanville and serves private flights and flight training. But make no mistake – the plans underway are bold in both scale and ambition.

Imagine arriving, clearing immigration and baggage at the boutique terminal, then walking straight to your curated drive – a premium SUV, a comfortable sedan, or a rugged 4×4 – and hitting the road. No city traffic, no long transfers. Let’s take a closer look at the possibilities.

A map showing the location of the new airport | Photo: Cape Winelands Airport

What Do We Know So Far?

Under development by RSA.Aero, the airport is being transformed into a full-fledged domestic and international hub. The blueprint includes the realignment and extension of a primary runway to 3,500 metres, enabling wide-body aircraft to land, alongside aircraft parking stands, hangars, and modern support infrastructure. A boutique, state-of-the-art terminal is also planned – complete with modern check-in, baggage, security, retail, and passenger amenities.

Strategically located near key road links (not far from the N1 freeway), the airport is being designed as a multimodal hub, integrating road, rail, and air connections. It’s an all-new opportunity to maximise your holidays in Cape Town!

Current progress shows the project advancing through environmental approval stages (EIA submissions underway), with public participation underway and funding structures being mobilised. If all goes to plan, construction could begin toward the end of 2025, with the first phase operational by 2027 or early 2028.

Once fully operational, the airport aims to handle up to 5.2 million passengers annually by 2050, with forecasts of two million international and three million domestic travellers.

Why This Matters for Western Cape Tourism

1. Ease of Arrival into the Winelands

Tourists today often fly into Cape Town International Airport and then battle traffic to reach Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek, or other wine routes. Cape Winelands Airport cuts that friction. Visitors arriving here can step into immersive landscapes immediately, without the detour into the city. That means faster access to vineyard routes, mountain passes, coastal detours, and hidden gems.

2. Decongesting Cape Town’s Main Airport

Cape Town International is already under strain from growing traffic. By introducing a second airport in the metro, pressure is alleviated, and airlines have a closer diversion option – which in turn lets them carry less reserve fuel, improving efficiency and reducing emissions.

3. Stimulating Regional Economic Growth

Beyond tourism, Cape Winelands Airport is poised to become a logistics hub, cargo centre, and catalyst for industrial development. Its arrival is projected to generate tens of thousands of jobs between 2027 and 2050, and to attract property investment into surrounding areas.

4. Positioning the Winelands as a Destination Itself

With a dedicated airport, the Cape Winelands becomes not just a region to pass through, but a destination in its own right. This opens opportunities for niche airlines, boutique wine-tour circuits, weekend escapes, and multi-centre itineraries (Winelands and Garden Route, Winelands and Karoo, etc.)

An artist’s rendition of a terminal at the Cape Winelands Airport | Photo: Cape Winelands Airport

Road Exploration Made Easy: Car Hire & 4×4 Rental at Cape Winelands Airport

Here’s where you should really get excited. One of the standout advantages of the Cape Winelands Airport model will be the convenience of collecting your car or 4×4 rental right at touchdown – no need to shuttle to a city depot first.

Whether you’re on a leisurely vineyard-hopping trip, chasing rugged mountain passes, or exploring out-of-the-way rural charms, having a vehicle ready the moment you land is a huge boost to flexibility.

• Car Hire in Cape Town: Providers could expand operations into Cape Winelands Airport, opening new service points outside the city core.
• 4×4 Rental in Cape Town: Specialists can also position themselves at this hub, giving travellers direct access to off-road routes, farm roads, mountain tracks, and lesser-known landscapes.

This model could also foster partnerships between airlines and car rental companies: for instance, packages bundling flights and car hire from arrival to departure. It’s a true end-to-end travel experience.

A wine farm in the Cape Winelands at sunset | Photo: Werner du Plessis

Arrive at Cape Winelands Airport and Drive to Your Adventure

Here’s a taste of what a visitor might experience:

1. Arrival: You fly into Cape Winelands Airport early morning, breeze through a boutique terminal, and step across to your waiting vehicle from a 4×4 rental provider.
2. Winelands Loop: Hit Stellenbosch for tasting, then loop through Paarl and Franschhoek with scenic stops.
3. Mountain Drives: Tackle passes such as Bainskloof or Nederberg with ease, pushing out to quieter rural routes.
4. Coastal Option: Swing to the West Coast to towns like Yzerfontein or Saldanha, then return via scenic backroads.
5. Multi-day Tour: Use the airport as a base; fly in, drive, stay in boutique wine lodges or farm stays, then depart when ready – no need to commute into the city.

Because your vehicle is there from the start, you can structure your trip as you like: day loops, wine tours, off-road detours, or a mix of nature and culture.

An artist’s rendition of the private hangars | Photo: Cape Winelands Airport

The Cape Winelands Airport is more than infrastructure – it’s a bold reimagining of how visitors will arrive and travel through the Western Cape. It promises to remove friction, unlock new travel flows, and shift the spotlight onto the region, in addition to the thrilling experiences offered in Cape Town.

For Drive South Africa clients, the promise of seamless car hire in Cape Town or 4×4 rental in Cape Town (but located at the arrival hub itself) adds a layer of convenience and freedom that matches the adventurous spirit of exploring the Winelands.

Once open, Cape Winelands Airport may well change the rulebook: touchdown, fuel up, and start driving – all within minutes of arrival. Keep an eye on this one because the journey to the Winelands is about to get far more direct. In the meantime, you can still book car rental at Cape Town International Airport!