Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) made a net profit of R1.2 billion in the 2025/26 financial year. The company owns and runs the country’s nine main commercial airports.
Total revenue rose by 11.6% to R8.8 billion, TopAuto reported. Profit before tax grew by 10.1% to R1.99 billion, and net profit improved by 5.2%.
“In the 2025/26 financial year, ACSA continued to demonstrate resilience, financial discipline and a clear commitment to sustainable value creation,” said ACSA Chief Financial Officer Luzuko Mbotya.
More than 20.5 million passengers passed through ACSA airports in the year. That is 98% of the number recorded before the pandemic.
The report linked the recovery to more frequent flights, larger aircraft and new routes from over 15 carriers. Total passenger numbers across the network rose by 8.5%.
Aeronautical revenue rose by 15.2% to R4.7 billion and made up 53% of total revenue. That beat the budget target of R4.54 billion.
Passenger service charges brought in R3.1 billion. Landing fees added R1.5 billion and aircraft parking fees added R67 million.
Retail income came to R1.4 billion and property rentals to R1.1 billion. Parking fees earned R614 million and car rentals earned R430 million.
Costs also came down. Net finance expenses fell by 25.2% to R151 million, and total liabilities dropped to R12.1 billion.
“Such returns would not have been possible without prudent and consistent financial management, uncompromising controls, unyielding accountability and consistently ethical leadership,” said board chairperson Irvin Phenyane.
ACSA raised its capital spending from R861 million in 2024/25 to R1.079 billion, despite procurement delays. The spending is part of a five-year airport upgrade programme worth R21.7 billion.
OR Tambo International Airport is set to get a new cargo terminal, expected to cost R5.7 billion. The project is expected to be completed in the 2028/29 financial year.
ACSA has also started design work on international busing gates and a terminal refurbishment at the airport. The first phase of its jet fuel receipt project is complete, using a new R23 million pipeline.
At Cape Town International Airport, planning covers an upgrade of the international terminal. It also covers new domestic arrival and departure gates and a realigned runway.
Planning has begun for terminal extensions, parking upgrades and runway repairs at Chief Dawid Stuurman Airport in Gqeberha. King Phalo Airport in East London has started upgrades to its departure lounge and arrivals area.
King Shaka International Airport in Durban is upgrading its Bravo taxiway and its battery charging facilities.
Six new international routes were launched during the year. They link Johannesburg to Perth, Algiers, Zanzibar, Nacala, Libreville and Gaborone.
ACSA has appointed Siphamandla Mthethwa as its chief executive officer. It is his second stint at the company, where he earlier served as chief financial officer and executive director.
Source: this article is based on reporting by TopAuto.co.za. Image: TopAuto.co.za. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Business desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Anelisa Nkuna covers business and money news for Tzaneen Voice. Anelisa reports on the rand, fuel prices, interest rates, jobs, Eskom, Transnet, farming and company results. The aim is simple: explain what the numbers mean for household budgets, small businesses and workers in South Africa.