The African Development Bank (AfDB) estimates that the financial requirement to close Africa’s infrastructure deficit amounts to $93 billion, annually, until 2020.

A large percentage of the shortfall relates to transport – mainly rail, roads and ports – although Africa’s airports also require attention.

“There has been a particularly strong increase in the flow of airport projects in the sub-region. For the first eight months of 2015 alone, Africa Project Access has detected 25 new greenfield and brownfield airport projects for sub-Saharan Africa, outside South Africa,” says Paul Runge, managing director of the consultancy.

“In 2013, the larger airports in sub-Saharan Africa (over one million passengers per annum) handled approximately 56 million passengers. Although about half of this total was for South African airports, there has been a sharp rise in passenger and cargo handling at airports outside of South Africa,” says Runge.

According to the African Airlines Association, total global freight carried by African airlines has increased substantially and is nearing the one billion ton mark.

“This interesting development is multi-focused and pertains to new planned international airports, expansion and rehabilitation of existing airports and a new focus on regional and provincial airports. Airports are being converted into commercial hubs including retail outlets and hotels. The Aerotropolis project connected to OR Tambo airport is a good example.”