OR Tambo International Advances R14.5 Billion Upgrade

O.R. Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), South Africa’s primary aviation gateway and Africa’s busiest airport, is pressing ahead with an ambitious R14.5 billion, five-year capital expenditure programme aimed at modernising critical infrastructure, improving operational resilience and significantly elevating the passenger experience. The investment forms part of Airports Company South Africa’s (ACSA) long-term strategy to ensure ORTIA remains competitive as a leading intercontinental hub linking Africa to the world and to ensure that travellers spend less time wrestling with infrastructure and more time enjoying their journey.

The current phase of work focuses on high-impact, high-visibility passenger areas. Across the terminals, ageing escalators and travelators are being refurbished to improve reliability and reduce service disruptions, a welcome development for anyone who has ever found themselves walking briskly on what was supposed to be a “moving” walkway. New ergonomic seating is being rolled out in departure lounges to improve comfort during peak travel periods, while enhanced wayfinding signage aims to make navigating the terminals more intuitive for first-time visitors and seasoned frequent flyers alike. In a further shift toward durability and ease of maintenance, carpeting at international boarding gates is being replaced with hard-wearing tiling, creating a cleaner, contemporary look better suited to the realities of high passenger volumes, rolling suitcases and the occasional spilt coffee.

“At OR Tambo International Airport, we listen to our passengers. This programme directly addresses their expectations for facility standards, delivering infrastructure that meets global benchmarks,” said Regional General Manager Jabu Khambule. “We are working towards an airport that moves people efficiently while delivering comfort and excellence.” In practical terms, this means smoother passenger flows, fewer bottlenecks, and facilities that look and feel like they belong in a modern global hub.

A key component of the current programme is the accelerated refurbishment of terminal ablution facilities, an area frequently highlighted in passenger feedback. After a brief pause during the G20 Leaders’ Summit and the festive peak travel season, work has resumed at full capacity. New, state-of-the-art facilities are now operational on the Ground Floor in Domestic Arrivals and in Domestic Departures near Central Security, featuring premium finishes, improved layouts and modern fittings designed to prioritise hygiene, durability and comfort, small details that make a big difference after a long-haul flight.

Phase 1 of the ablution upgrade programme commenced on 1 June 2025 and is scheduled for completion by the end of March 2026, covering the modernisation of 90 individual toilets. Phase 2, set to begin in July 2026, will extend the programme significantly, refurbishing a further 780 individual toilets across the terminals. Detailed phasing and off-peak work schedules are being used to minimise passenger inconvenience, acknowledging that no traveller enjoys discovering that their nearest restroom is temporarily “out of service” when time is tight.

The current investment builds on a long history of major upgrades at ORTIA, reflecting the airport’s evolving role in regional and global aviation. Originally opened in 1952 as Jan Smuts Airport, the facility underwent substantial expansion in the 1970s to accommodate the arrival of widebody aircraft and rising international traffic. A further wave of modernisation followed in the late 1990s and early 2000s as South Africa reconnected with global air transport markets.

The most dramatic transformation came ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, when ORTIA embarked on a multi-billion-Rand redevelopment programme. This included the construction of the Central Terminal Building, new international departure halls, expanded baggage handling systems, additional aircraft parking stands and major improvements to landside access, including the Gautrain station. These investments reshaped the airport into a modern hub capable of handling large passenger volumes and helped ensure that visiting soccer fans found their way from aircraft to stadium with minimal fuss.

More recent upgrades have focused on maintaining asset condition, improving security screening technology, enhancing retail and hospitality offerings and upgrading IT and baggage systems to meet evolving airline and passenger expectations. The current R14.5 billion CAPEX programme represents the next chapter in this continuous evolution, aimed at renewing ageing infrastructure while future-proofing the airport for projected growth over the coming decades.

Beyond the visible improvements, ACSA notes that the programme is fundamentally about operational resilience, safety and efficiency. Refurbished circulation systems, upgraded surfaces and modernised facilities contribute to reduced downtime, lower lifecycle maintenance costs and improved passenger satisfaction, increasingly important metrics as major hub airports compete for long-haul connectivity in a crowded global market.

When complete, the upgrades are expected to reinforce the airport’s status as Africa’s premier aviation gateway, proving that even a seasoned international hub can benefit from a fresh coat of paint, a smoother escalator ride and facilities that make the journey just a little more pleasant.