National Airports Development Plan Gazetted

Posted 30 April 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Transport

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: The Department of Transport has gazetted the National Airports Development Plan (NADP), establishing a framework for airport applications and provincial infrastructure identification.

The National Airports Development Plan, dated March 2024, was gazetted on 17 April 2026. While the document appears finalized, the Department’s Annual Performance Plan (page 124) originally anticipated a draft submission to Cabinet during the 2025/26 financial year. Subsequent updates provided to the National Assembly’s Transport Committee on 22 April 2026 indicate that the plan must still undergo consultations within the National Economic Development & Labour Council (NEDLAC), with formal Cabinet submission now deferred to the 2027/28 financial year.

The NADP stipulates that for the next five years, the Department will employ a reactive process for applications relating to international, regional-international, and national airports. This process will be managed through specific application window periods to enable comparative analysis between competing applications. The plan refers to the draft Civil Aviation Policy released in May 2025 as a foundational regulatory component.

Infrastructure and Municipal Obligations

The plan places specific emphasis on the role of provincial and local government in maintaining aviation infrastructure. Provincial governments and local municipalities are tasked with identifying airports within their jurisdictions that:

  • Cannot achieve commercial viability under current market conditions;
  • Serve a critical public service; and
  • Can be justified for continued operation based on socio-economic impact.

The identification of these facilities is intended to inform future budget allocations and ensure that essential air links are maintained even where private commercial interest is absent. The implementation of these initiatives will require the Department of Transport to coordinate with various airport role players and stakeholders across the aviation value chain.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: No direct individual compliance obligations; professional awareness is required regarding the shifting timeline for final Cabinet approval, currently projected for 2027/28.
  • For your business: Firms involved in aviation infrastructure or logistics must align their expansion strategies with the five-year reactive application window periods specified in the NADP.
  • For your clients: Municipal and provincial clients must initiate socio-economic audits of non-commercial airports to justify continued funding and inclusion in the national development framework.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/in-the-spotlight-airports-development-plan-still-a-work-in-progress

The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Acts Online. Acts Online accepts no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the article, nor does the information contained herein constitute advice, legal or otherwise.