Name change planned for major South African international airport
City of Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero has recently announced plans to rename Lanseria International Airport.
However, this plan to rename the airport has sparked criticism following the announcement by the mayor during his 2025 State of the City Address.
Morero revealed that discussions were underway to change the airport’s name to reflect its identity and connection to Johannesburg better.
This move surprised several coalition partners in the city council, like the United Democratic Movement (UDM), and other political parties, such as the Freedom Front Plus (FF+).
According to Morero, the airport’s management is considering the name change as part of a broader effort to elevate its status and strengthen its brand.
“The city will support this initiative, which will strengthen the airport brand and foster a stronger sense of belonging,” he said.
While no new name has been proposed yet, the mayor emphasised the airport’s growing role as a major transport hub for Gauteng and Southern Africa.
He said this role has made it essential to consider a name that resonates more with the city’s image and aspirations. City officials also said a new name could help Lanseria compete more effectively globally.
Morero argued that the rebranding forms part of a broader strategy to align the airport’s growth with the city’s.
“We are growing, and our airport must grow with us—in infrastructure, in capacity, and in identity,” he said.
However, the proposal has not been universally welcomed. Coalition partners voiced concerns over the lack of consultation and questioned the timing and necessity of the move.
UDM councillor Yongama Zigebe told News24 that Morero’s announcement was the first the party had heard of the renaming plan.
“As a party, we are waiting for Morero to bring a report on the renaming to the Portfolio Management Committee so that we can discuss it there,” Zigebe said.
He pointed out that the council, not the mayor alone, holds the final say on such a decision.
Zigebe also criticised the focus on renaming at a time when the city faces significant financial pressures.
“For a city that is under national scrutiny and local expectations, with our finances dwindling, we can’t make this a priority,” he said.
Will do little to change the lives of South Africans in the City
AIC councillor and Finance MMC Margaret Arnolds acknowledged that the renaming issue had come up at a recent lekgotla, indicating that it has been discussed informally within the administration.
FFP councillor Franco de Lange was even more direct in his opposition, calling the renaming effort an “absolute waste of taxpayers’ money.”
He argued that such symbolic changes would do little to address South Africans’ real economic and social issues.
“That is not going to feed them, give them housing, or provide meaningful job opportunities,” De Lange said.
Despite the controversy surrounding the name change, Lanseria’s transformation into a major regional airport is still underway.
Since being sold to private investors in 1991, the airport has undergone numerous upgrades to accommodate larger aircraft and increased traffic.
In 2012, the airport was acquired by a consortium that included infrastructure investment firm Harith, women’s empowerment group Nozala, and the Government Employees Pension Fund.
Since then, expansion has accelerated, including the construction of a new runway and air traffic control tower.
A new phase of upgrades, aimed at enhancing the airport’s infrastructure and operational capacity, was unveiled in July 2024.
These developments include an R500 million upgrade to taxiways, the construction of a new fuel depot, and the addition of maintenance and fixed-base operator facilities.
These improvements will enable Lanseria to handle wide-bodied aircraft such as Boeing 777s and Airbus A330s.
Lanseria CEO Rampa Rammopo said the upgrades would establish the airport as a “one-stop shop” for regional aviation services.
The new fuel farm will increase the airport’s fuel storage capacity from one million litres to around seven million litres, significantly improving its resilience and reliability.
“These capital projects will increase the airport’s efficiency and reliability, attracting international trade and logistics partners,” Rammopo said.
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