South African millionaire Rob Hersov is nearing completion of the Cape Winelands Airport, with a possible public opening on the horizon.
According to an IOL story citing Mark Wilkinson, director of Cape Winelands Airport, the airport’s development is moving quickly under the supervision of a skilled staff.
Ongoing projects include enlarging an existing runway, improving aviation facilities, and strengthening infrastructure.
The projects are intended to increase aviation capacity, add redundancy to the region, and reduce overall flying costs for the general population.
Wilkinson told IOL that the plans are extensive and nearing completion, but he was tight-lipped about the airport’s finer specifics.
“We look forward to sharing them in the future. For now, we are operating as a small general aviation airfield offering training and charter flights in the most beautiful part of the world, and a location very drivable for residents of Cape Town and the Winelands, which we see as a future growth node for the region,” he said.
Hersov purchased the disused Fisantekraal airfield in 2021 and announced his plans to convert it into a vibrant airport and secondary hub for Cape Town. As a result, the airstrip was renamed Cape Winelands Airport.
Cape Winelands Airport was built in 1943 by the South African Air Force and was used to operate Lockheed Ventura bombers. It lies around 13 kilometers (8.1 miles) northeast of Durbanville and covers 150 hectares.
In the 1960s, the airfield was passed to the local municipality, and it was sold to a private owner in 1993.
In 2021, Hersov acquired the airport.
The South African entrepreneur has claimed in several interviews that he intends to create the Cape Winelands Airport as a full-service hub for both scheduled passenger flights and general aviation activities, including non-scheduled flights by private jet owners. The airport’s attraction originates from its close proximity to the Cape Winelands and Franschhoek.
Hersov is one of South Africa’s richest men. He founded the private jet service company Marquis Jet Europe, which was later sold to Netjets, and he has since established several enterprises in the media, mining, and consulting sectors.