George Airport is set for a major upgrade after reaching its current passenger capacity, following another year of strong growth that underscores the Garden Route city’s rising appeal as both a tourism hotspot and business hub.
George Airport/Getaway Gallery
More than 911,000 passengers travelled through the airport in 2025, representing an 11% increase compared with the previous year. The surge in demand has prompted Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) to proceed with a planned R310 million expansion that will increase the terminal’s capacity to accommodate up to 2 million passengers annually.
Construction is expected to begin in October.
The upgrade comes as George continues to experience rapid growth, fuelled by increasing tourism, population expansion and investment in sectors including healthcare, retail and property. As more people choose to live, work and holiday in the region, demand on transport infrastructure has also intensified.
As the main gateway to the Garden Route, George Airport plays a vital role in connecting visitors with one of South Africa’s most popular travel destinations. Higher passenger volumes are expected to provide a further boost to local tourism, benefiting accommodation providers, restaurants, tour operators, car hire companies and other businesses that rely on visitor spending.
While Acsa has confirmed the investment, it has not yet released detailed plans outlining what the R310 million project will include. The expansion is, however, expected to increase passenger capacity while improving the overall travel experience significantly.
ALSO READ:
Building stronger communities beyond 67 minutes this Mandela Day
The development also reflects a broader shift in South Africa’s aviation sector, with regional airports becoming increasingly important as travellers opt for direct flights to leisure destinations rather than routing through the country’s major metropolitan airports.
Airport Ads director Mzukisi Deliwe said George’s continued growth highlights the rising importance of regional airports.
“George’s expansion will create more opportunities to engage with leisure travellers, business owners, second-home owners and visitors travelling to the Garden Route,” he said.
George Airport is one of several regional airports earmarked for upgrades under Acsa’s wider R22 billion capital investment programme. Other airports set to benefit include King Phalo International Airport, Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport, Upington International Airport, Bram Fischer International Airport and Kimberley Airport.
For travellers, the expansion signals continued confidence in the Garden Route’s tourism economy and the region’s growing role as one of South Africa’s key domestic travel destinations.
Acsa has yet to confirm whether the project will include additional airline routes or how construction may affect passengers while work is underway.
SOURCE: George Herald
Follow us on social media for more travel news, inspiration, and guides. You can also tag us to be featured.
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Spotify
ALSO READ:
OR Tambo’s Bidvest Premier Lounge named Africa’s best in 2026 awards
