What the Growth of Lanseria International Airport means for the Midrand Property Market

Lanseria International Airport is South Africa’s fourth largest airport based on passenger numbers. It is situated in Northern Johannesburg and is privately owned by the Public Investment Corporation, the Pan African Infrastructure Development Fund and Nozala Investment Holdings.

Lanseria is designed with efficiency in mind. An emphasis has been placed on fast passenger turnover times, with no retail outlets and minimal restaurant options. Another convenience factor is the fact that passengers only need to arrive at LIA 45 minutes before their departure. 

Lanseria was the first airport in Africa to introduce a self-service system that allows passengers to tag and drop off their own luggage. The system, which was introduced last year, makes use of state-of-the-art technology and saves passengers time as there is no longer a need to wait in check-in lines. Passengers who may not be too tech-savvy, can still opt to deal with a physical LIA employee when it comes to checking in their luggage.

And the airport foresees even larger upgrades. Rampa Rammopo, Lanseria’s CEO, announced his plans for the major growth of the airport late last year. He aims for the airport to double their passenger count to four million by 2022. Becoming the third largest airport in South Africa, thus overtaking King Shaka International Airport in Durban.

Aims to increase international travel is one of Lanseria’s main objectives. Presently, only domestic flights are catered for by Lanseria. With flight destinations including Durban, Cape Town and George. But Lanseria is currently meeting with Air Namibia, Air Mauritius, Kenya Airways and Botswana Air to discuss the possibilities of introducing international flights in the near future.

However almost every aspect of the airport needs upgrades in order to accommodate the expected growth in passengers. But Rammopo has already taken this need for development into account and has started implementing plans to build a hotel adjacent to LIA as well as extending the airport. The construction of a new, multi-level parkade has already begun and is set to include a further 1000 parking bays. The first phase, which includes a tunnel linking the parkade to the terminal building, has already been completed.

The growth and development of LIA is good news for its surrounding areas of Centurion, Lonehill, and Midrand. Midrand is a mere half an hour drive from Lanseria airport and the area will benefit greatly from Lanseria’s new renovations and upgrades. The fact that such a prominent and evolving airport is within such close proximity to Midrand, boosts residents, workers and potential buyers’ confidence in the Midrand area. The airport also provides the perfect take-off zone for business trips, and the possibility of the import and export of goods- giving the commercial industry in the area unrivaled potential. OfficePlace, commercial property specialists, have as many as 70 prime commercial listings in Midrand, with upmarket office space for as little as R91 per sqm.

LIA has convenient access to both the N1 and N14 highways, giving their passengers ease of access to the city and surrounding areas. The Gautrain, Gauteng’s key railway facility, foresees the building of a station at Lanseria, which would make LIA even more accessible. However, Gautrain does not foresee a station being built in the immediate future.

With the imminent growth of Lanseria Airport in sight, Midrand is soon to become an even bigger force in the commercial and industrial property scope. It appears as if now is the ideal time to move your business premise or offices to the developed area of Midrand. Get in touch with an OfficePlace broker today in order to find out more about their current property opportunities in Midrand.