The airport was built in its original form in 1943, on a 150 ha site, for use by the
South African Air Force. Originally called Fisantekraal Airport, it had 4 runways. As of 2025, only 2 of the original 4 runways are still in use: 05/23 and 14/32. In October 2025, South Africa's largest
real estate investment trust (REIT),
Growthpoint Properties, became an investment, development, and managing partner of Cape Winelands Airport. Growthpoint made an initial, undisclosed investment in the project, and holds the right to future investments. Under the agreement, Growthpoint assumed long-term property and asset management responsibilities across the 450-ha aviation precinct’s logistics, commercial, and hospitality components (which excludes the terminal buildings), and has the right of first refusal to co-invest in future property developments. Furthermore, Growthpoint will oversee the development’s main contractor to ensure delivery of the project. For its part, the Cape Winelands Airport team will lead aviation strategy and master planning of the international aviation hub. In November 2025, it was reported that the airport had secured Environmental Authorization (EA) from the
Western Cape Government. In December 2025, it was announced that
WBHO, South Africa's largest construction company, had been selected to build Cape Winelands Airport. The airport's MD, Deon Cloete, stated that with the
construction contractor having been selected, the project had reached a significant milestone, and could move into the detailed technical development and planning phase. Thus, Cloete said the airport's team would begin developing the specific designs and engineering frameworks required to move the project toward construction readiness. ==Location==