At the 43rd Annual Southern African Transport Conference held on 7 July 2025 in Pretoria, Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the aviation sector through strategic infrastructure development, improved operational efficiency, and enhanced sustainability.
In line with the Department of Transport’s six core targets for the current political term, the aviation sector is expected to contribute directly to tourism, economic development, and job creation. The government has set a goal of 42 million passengers per annum moving through the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) network by the end of the term. In parallel, the country aims to handle 1.2 million tons of airfreight per year through the same network.
To support these targets, R21.7 billion has been allocated by ACSA for infrastructure development. This investment is focused on improving passenger safety and comfort, as well as the construction of a new freight terminal at OR Tambo International Airport. Additional projects are being fast-tracked to ensure reliable jet fuel availability at all national airports and to support the upkeep and upgrading of airport facilities and technologies, improving both security and user convenience.
The contribution of South African Airways (SAA) to the national economy was highlighted with reference to a recent study by Oxford Economics Africa. According to the findings, SAA contributed R9.1 billion to South Africa’s GDP in 2023/24, a figure projected to grow to R32.6 billion by 2029/30. Employment supported by SAA is expected to increase from 25,000 to 86,700 jobs over the same period.
SAA is pursuing a measured fleet expansion to meet growing demand and is implementing a route expansion strategy to enhance its regional and global footprint. New regional routes from Johannesburg and Cape Town are being developed to strengthen intra-African connectivity, aligning with national objectives to support both tourism and trade.
With unencumbered assets and renewed profitability, the airline is well-positioned to drive economic value through expanded international services, job creation, and increased contributions to trade and tourism.
As the country works toward integrated transport reform, the government has also prioritised aviation fuel availability, infrastructure modernisation, and freight terminal capacity as part of the broader logistics and transport strategy extending to 2030.
You can access the full speech from the minister here:
