Coega has announced that it could soon have a multi-million rand airport which will offer speedy freight links to investors.

The industrial development zone (IDZ) says that Coega businesses which deal in time-critical products are at a disadvantage because the most obvious departure point and entry point for its airfreight is 1000km away, namely the Johannesburg International Airport.

To be constructed next to the port, the airport will have industrial facilities aimed at attracting businesses that depend on air-freight links.

Though the space for the runway has already being allocated, it is not expected that the airport will not be built for some time. However, the process of studying the development of a freight-focused airport and industrial cluster is about to begin.

Coega hopes that it will become a pivotal “airfreight platform” for the country, having connections to Europe, Asia and America.

While the intention is develop the airport to handle freight primarily, the airport will have the capacity handle passenger traffic as the tourism profile of the province grows.