The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling for urgent national government intervention to rescue the rapidly failing Upington International Airport, whose ongoing dysfunction is blocking investment, destroying jobs, and holding back the local economy.
Defects were identified on the long runway for bigger aircraft, after repairs to the landing zones were carried out in December. This has left the runway closed for over a month. Alarmingly, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has failed to provide any timelines to cargo operators for when the runway will be repaired and reopened. According to information on the website acukwik.com, used by freight companies for flight scheduling, the runway is only expected to reopen in September 2026.
As a result, air freight companies are being forced to reroute cargo via Johannesburg and complete the journey by road, or to cancel flights altogether. This is placing severe strain on the Upington economy, particularly during December, January and February, the peak cargo season. These months coincide with high-speed, high-dust and extreme heat vehicle testing conducted by German automotive companies on sections of the N14 outside Upington, activity that depends heavily on reliable air freight access.
The economic future of the region, the airport’s international status, and even basic infrastructure maintenance are clearly not being treated as priorities by ACSA or airport management. This neglect is visible throughout the facility:
• The lapa is closed.
• The restaurant has been downgraded to a cooldrink canteen.
• Once well-kept gardens are overgrown and neglected.
• A leaking, unattended water pipe sits directly opposite the viewing area, marked only by old danger tape and algae.
• The parking area is dilapidated, and excessive parking costs force passengers to wait at the gate instead.
Despite repeated commitments, provincial government’s promised Upington Cargo Hub also never materialised.
If decisive action is not taken soon, Upington International Airport risks sliding into complete decay, much like the railway line linking Upington to Namibia and the rest of South Africa, which has already been allowed to collapse.
The DA is calling on the Dawid Kruiper Municipality to urgently engage with the Premier, Dr Zamani Saul, to escalate this crisis to national government. In addition, we have formally requested parliamentary colleagues to seek an urgent intervention from ACSA and the Minister of Transport.
Upington International Airport is brimming with untapped potential. With leadership and vision, it could expand international freight operations; serve as an ideal aircraft storage facility due to low humidity; reinstate aircraft recycling operations; and become a hub for aircraft maintenance and repair workshops, supported by the vast land surrounding the airport.
The DA will continue to fight relentlessly to ensure that Upington International Airport reclaims its rightful place in the air transport industry and becomes a driver of economic growth and job creation for the region.