Who Owns Lanseria Airport? South Africa's Only Private Commercial Airport
Lanseria International Airport (IATA: HLA) holds a distinction shared by no other commercial airport in South Africa: it is privately owned. While OR Tambo International, Cape Town International and King Shaka International Airport in Durban are all owned and operated by the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) — a state-owned entity — Lanseria operates as a private infrastructure asset. Understanding who owns Lanseria Airport requires a brief look at its history, the 2013 sale that defined its modern era, and the significant ownership realignment that occurred in late 2024.
The Original Owners — 1972 to 1991
Lanseria Airport began life in 1972 on land acquired by the Krugersdorp and Roodepoort Municipality together with the Transvaal Peri-Urban Board. The land was contracted to the Lanseria Management Company on a 99-year lease, and the airport was officially opened on 16 August 1974. For the next two decades, the airport was developed and managed by a group of private investors who built it from a grass strip airfield into a functioning commercial and charter aviation facility.
In 1990, the original co-owners announced their intention to sell. They issued tenders for new ownership and management, and in 1991 the airport was sold to a new consortium of private investors who would own and develop it for the next 21 years.
The 2013 Sale — The Consortium That Transformed Lanseria
In November 2012, it was announced that the investors who had owned Lanseria for 21 years had sold 100% of their shares. The announcement was made by Harith General Partners, a Sandton-based Pan African infrastructure development fund manager. The transaction was concluded in 2013.
The new ownership consortium that emerged from that sale consisted of three entities:
1. The Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) — South Africa’s largest pension fund, with assets representing the retirement savings of government employees across the country. The GEPF participated through its asset manager, the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), a state-owned entity. The PIC’s involvement was structured in part to facilitate the empowerment consortium’s participation in the deal, consistent with South Africa’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) framework.
2. The Pan African Infrastructure Development Fund (PAIDF) — managed by Harith General Partners, a Sandton-based fund management company led at the time by CEO Tshepo Mahloele. Harith describes itself as a Pan African infrastructure fund manager with investments across the African continent. Mahloele stated at the time of the acquisition that Harith had invested approximately 75% of its funds into infrastructure assets across Africa, and that the Lanseria investment reflected a belief in the role of private airports in enabling Africa’s urbanisation and economic growth.
3. Nozala Investments (Pty) Ltd — a broad-based women’s empowerment investment company. Nozala participated as the lead entity of the BEE empowerment consortium, describing Lanseria as a key entry point into the aviation and infrastructure sector. The GEPF and PIC facilitated Nozala’s investment as part of their commitment to inclusive economic development.
The airport’s CEO at the time of the sale, Gavin Sayce, confirmed that the management team and operational philosophy would remain unchanged and that a committed capital expenditure programme for upgrades had been approved by the new owners. At the same time, Harith announced it had also purchased a piece of prime land adjacent to the airport with plans to develop it for cargo, logistics and retail purposes.
What Changed Under New Ownership
The 2013 consortium’s stewardship of Lanseria saw significant investment in the airport’s infrastructure. On 11 November 2013, the airport opened its new wider 07/25 runway — 45 metres wide and 2,996 metres long, replacing the previous 30-metre-wide 06/24 runway. Kulula was the first airline to land on the new runway. This investment underpinned the growth in commercial scheduled services, with FlySafair and Airlink growing their presence at the airport significantly during the 2010s and into the 2020s.
The multi-storey parkade was constructed, the terminal was upgraded, and Lanseria’s position as South Africa’s premier charter aviation hub was reinforced with additional hangarage and FBO facilities.
The 2024 Ownership Realignment — Harith InfraCo and GEPF Growth
In late 2024, a significant restructuring of the Lanseria ownership structure was announced. The two principal shareholders — the GEPF (through the PIC) and the Pan African Infrastructure Development Fund (PAIDF) — announced changes to their respective shareholdings as part of a strategic realignment.
The key changes were:
The GEPF increased its shareholding in Lanseria International Airport, making it the dominant shareholder in the airport going forward.
The PAIDF transferred its interest to a newly formed investment entity called Harith InfraCo Limited, effectively restructuring Harith’s holding in the airport under a new vehicle.
Lanseria CEO Rampa Rammopo described these changes as a clear signal of shareholders’ confidence in the airport’s growth potential and operational excellence. He stated that the restructured ownership would unlock further capital for critical infrastructure projects aimed at transforming Lanseria into a regional and global aviation hub. The airport’s stated ambition, as articulated by Rammopo, is to expand through acquiring and managing airports across Africa — positioning Lanseria as a future “Gateway to Africa.”
Who Is in Charge of Running Lanseria Day-to-Day?
While ownership is held by the GEPF/PIC, Harith InfraCo and the Nozala empowerment consortium, the day-to-day management of the airport is handled by Lanseria International Airport’s own executive team. The current CEO is Rampa Rammopo, who was also acting CEO during the earlier Nozala phase of the ownership.
The airport’s management team operates the facility 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, overseeing all commercial, charter, security, infrastructure and regulatory functions. Lanseria’s official contact for operational and PR matters is pr@lanseria.co.za / +27 11 367 0300.
Why Does Private Ownership Matter for Passengers?
As a privately owned airport, Lanseria operates with a commercial imperative that differs subtly from ACSA-managed airports. Several characteristics of the Lanseria passenger experience can be attributed at least in part to the private ownership model:
Competitive parking pricing. Lanseria’s parking rates are notably more reasonable than OR Tambo’s, reflecting a decision to price parking competitively to drive passenger volume. See the full Lanseria parking rates and guide.
24-hour operations. Lanseria’s 24/7 operation is a commercial decision enabled by private management flexibility.
Charter hub development. The concentration of over a dozen charter operators at Lanseria is partly a function of the airport actively cultivating and attracting charter aviation tenants as a revenue stream.
Investment in infrastructure. The 2013 new runway and ongoing terminal upgrades reflect the ability of a private ownership structure to mobilise capital relatively quickly for infrastructure investment.
For passengers, the practical question is simply: does Lanseria work better than OR Tambo for my trip? For the majority of travellers from Johannesburg’s northern suburbs, Sandton, Midrand, Centurion and Pretoria, the answer is almost always yes. You can explore everything Lanseria offers — from flights and lounges to restaurants and car hire — in our complete airport guide.
FAQs — Who Owns Lanseria Airport?
Who owns Lanseria Airport? Lanseria International Airport is privately owned by a consortium comprising the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) — represented by the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) — Harith InfraCo Limited, and an empowerment consortium led by Nozala Investments (Pty) Ltd.
Is Lanseria Airport a government airport? No. Lanseria is South Africa’s only privately owned commercial airport. South Africa’s three major airports (OR Tambo, Cape Town and King Shaka) are owned by the state-owned Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA). Lanseria is privately held.
Who is the CEO of Lanseria Airport? As of 2024, the CEO of Lanseria International Airport is Rampa Rammopo.
When was Lanseria Airport sold? The most recent sale was concluded in 2013, when the existing private investors sold 100% of their shares to the GEPF, PAIDF (Harith) and Nozala consortium. A further ownership realignment was announced in late 2024.
Is Lanseria Airport listed on the stock exchange? No. Lanseria is a private company and its shares are not publicly traded.
Who built Lanseria Airport? The concept for Lanseria Airport was the idea of two Pretoria pilots, Fanie Haacke and Abe Sher, in 1972. The land was acquired through a municipal authority arrangement and the airport was officially opened in 1974.
Is Lanseria Airport bigger than OR Tambo? No. OR Tambo is one of Africa’s busiest international airports and is significantly larger than Lanseria in terms of terminal size, passenger numbers and runway capacity. However, for domestic and charter travel from Johannesburg’s northern suburbs, Lanseria is frequently more convenient.
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