Cape Winelands Airport

The Western Cape is eagerly awaiting an exciting addition to its already formidable array of touristic treasure trove of offerings with the introduction of the Cape Winelands Airport.

In 2021, Rob Hersov acquired the former Fisantekraal airstrip and unveiled his vision to transform it into a vibrant airport and secondary hub for Cape Town. Consequently, the airstrip was rebranded as Cape Winelands Airport. What was once a small airstrip is now poised to be a bustling secondary hub for Cape Town’s aviation sector

A report from IOL cites Mark Wilkinson, director of Cape Winelands Airport, as saying that planning for the airport’s development is advancing rapidly under the guidance of a professional team headed by South African billionaire Rob Hersov.

Cape Winelands Airport (formerly Fisantekraal Airfield) is an ex-South African Air Force airfield built circa 1943 initially for the operation of Lockheed Ventura bombers during World War II, before being transferred to the local municipality in the 1960s. It has been under private ownership since 1993, and is conveniently located approximately half-way between the Cape Town CBD and Paarl.

Nestled in the scenically beautiful Western Cape winelands and is conveniently located on a 150ha site, the airstrip has been operating privately as a general flying airfield, and is the preferred base for aviation training in the Cape Town region. Of the four original runways, two remain operational while the other two are used as Hollywood favourites for movie shoots and film production.

Cape Winelands Airport manages numerous aircraft hangars for the storage and maintenance of private aircraft and helicopters, with plenty of room for further development and ancillary services.

Whether you’re looking for a picturesque alternative for private aviation transport, or to learn how to fly an aircraft or simply require a base for your own private aircraft offerings, Cape Winelands Airport is perfectly situated and equipped to facilitate your needs.

The initiatives of expanding an existing runway, enhancing aeronautical facilities, and bolstering the infrastructure are set to augment aviation capacity for the Western Cape, as well as curtail overall flying expenses for the public.

Most of the largest airports in the country are owned by the Airports Company of South Africa.  These include all the international airports except for Lanseria International Airport which is privately owned.

Hersov has stated his intensions to establish the Cape Winelands Airport as a full-service hub that will cater for both scheduled commercial passenger flights as well as general aviation activities, including non-scheduled flights by private plane owners, similar to that at Lanseria.  In its facilitation of private aircraft services, Cape Winelands Airport aims to leverage off the natural beauty of its surroundings and its distinct allure stems from its proximity to Cape Winelands and Franschhoek.

Hersov is one of the South Africa’s wealthiest men. He was the founder of private jet service provider Marquis Jet Europe which was eventually sold to Netjets, and he has gone on to establish various businesses in the media, mining and consulting sectors.  He is part of a creative group who brought you playful spaces in Cape Town like the Old Biscuit Mill, the River Club and South Africa’s original art boutique hotel, Daddy Long Legs.