Since 1994, Cape Town International Airport has seen strong and consistent growth in both passenger volumes and aircraft movements, resulting in an increasing demand for the constant upgrading of services and facilities. Aircraft movements now exceed 60,000 per annum and passenger numbers over the past year were constantly rising to approximately 5.7 million. Projections see the number of passengers at Cape Town International increasing to 14 million by 2015. Cargo throughput at the airport has also increased substantially and shows continued growth.

With the ever increasing volumes of International and Domestic passengers passing through the airport, developments continue on an ongoing basis, and the face of the airport is constantly evolving and improving.

The new International Terminal opened in March 2001, with a capacity to handle 950 arriving international passengers per hour. The terminal is a light, airy and spacious environment that aims to provide international passengers and visitors to the airport with a facility that is carefully created around their need for convenience and efficient service whilst at the airport.

There are restaurant / bar facilities on both the ground and mezzanine levels, and extensive duty-free shopping facilities in the International Departure Terminal (airside).

The new International Arrivals Terminal was officially opened by The Minister of Transport, Mr Dullah Omar on March 27th 2001. Capable of handling 950 arriving international passengers per hour, this spacious and modern Terminal is the first phase in the complete re-development of the International section of Cape Town International. This also includes the recent installation of Wi-Fi hotspots in the International and Domestic departures areas past the security check points.

As part of the Airport Masterplan for developments at Cape Town International Airport, airbridges will be introduced at the International Terminal, linking the mezzanine level with the parked wide-body aircraft.

Despite extensions to the Terminal Buildings, Cape Town International Airport will still not offer sufficient aircraft parking alongside the main Terminal Buildings, and accordingly long-term planning incorporates remote parking alongside satellite terminal buildings, parallel to the main Terminal Buildings. These satellite terminals will be linked to the main complex by an underground passage equipped with travellators. The first phase of this project will see additional parking for aircraft and capacity for 6.5 million passengers. By the year 2015, the airport will have a capacity for 14 million passengers.

Another major airside project is the construction of a second runway. This project, subject to potential passenger growth being realized, is due to commence in 2015, and would be scheduled for completion in 2017.

Naturally along with the projected growth in passengers volumes, will be a corresponding increase in the number of vehicles requiring parking at Cape Town International Airport. With this in mind, ACSA plans to build two parkades, allowing domestic and international arrivals access via elevated walkways, with departing passengers gaining access to the Terminals from ground level.

ACSA also has proposals to develop a Freight City in order to accommodate the needs of the large numbers of freight agents situated at Cape Town International Airport. Although these agents have offices at the airport, there are no warehouses in which to store goods. ACSA will also build a perishable-goods warehouse with facilities to store fish, fruit and vegetables.

A new fire station located at the South end of the main runway, adjoining the Control Tower complex, was completed in 1998. A unique facility at Cape Town International Airport is a fire and rescue simulator, which is the only one of its kind on the African continent, and has been specifically designed and developed to provide rescue crews with training of fire fighting and rescue work on tri-jet configured aircraft (such as 727’s and MD-11’s) as well as those with standard under-wing engine mountings. To this end, a specially designed fuselage was built, with standard under-wing engines as well as a tail mounted engine. The fuselage is built to actual size of a 737.

Aside from all developments of the Terminal Buildings and related structures at Cape Town International Airport, the growth in volumes and traffic has seen an increased demand for top grade office space at the airport.

The prestigious Airport Oval office complex opened during 2000, providing prime office accommodation, with substantial expansions and developments still in the pipeline. As the name implies, the complex is developed around a cricket oval, which will be used to develop the sport amongst members of the previously disadvantaged community, as well as being used for certain non-test matches for visiting international teams.

The Southern Office Block, situated to the south side of the Domestic Arrivals Terminal opened March 2001, and houses the offices of Airports Company South Africa as well as other role players at the Airport.

Plans for a hotel at Cape Town International Airport, as well as a rail connection to the CBD are in place.