Private participation in Africa’s airport sector is expanding, but remains structurally limited compared to global aviation markets.
Most airports across the continent are still state-owned, with private capital entering primarily through concessions, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and long-term infrastructure leases rather than outright ownership.
This model has attracted a growing pool of investors ranging from pension funds and infrastructure managers to construction conglomerates and global airport operators.
The small presence of private operators comes against the backdrop of a continent that accounts for only about 2–3% of global air traffic despite its population size. Africa’s aviation industry is constrained by high operating costs, limited intra-regional connectivity, and uneven infrastructure quality, even as passenger demand continues to rise steadily.
As governments seek to modernize transport infrastructure without overburdening public finances, airport concessions have become a key policy tool. The result is a fragmented but gradually evolving ecosystem where state ownership remains dominant, but operational control and capital deployment are increasingly shared with private investors.
Owners-Grand Central Airport
CEO-Jurie Strydom
Grand Central Airport (GCJ) is a privately owned general aviation airport located in Midrand, between Johannesburg and Pretoria.
- The airport is wholly owned by Old Mutual Life Assurance Company of South Africa (OMLACSA), which became the sole shareholder of Grand Central Airport (Pty) Ltd in June 2016.
- Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (South Africa) Limited is a subsidiary of Old Mutual Limited (OML), a large financial services group listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and other African exchanges.
Jurie Strydom is a South African financial services executive serving as Chief Executive Officer of Old Mutual Limited, a pan-African insurance and investment group. He assumed the role in June 2025 after previously serving as an independent non-executive director of the company.
Strydom has more than 25 years of experience in the financial services sector, with leadership roles across insurance, asset management, and financial advisory businesses. Prior to joining Old Mutual, he was Chief Executive of Sanlam Life and Savings between 2016 and 2022.
His earlier roles include Chief Executive of Alexander Forbes Life and Regent Insurance Group, as well as Executive Director at Imperial Holdings.
Originally established in 1937 by aviation entrepreneur Harry Shires, Grand Central evolved from a small aerodrome into a key general aviation facility. It has historically supported flying clubs, training schools, and maintenance organisations, with periodic expansions, including a major upgrade in the early 1990s that enhanced its commercial and operational capabilities.
Today, the airport operates primarily within the general aviation segment, supporting private pilots, aviation training institutions, and maintenance providers rather than large-scale commercial airline traffic.
What about Asaba International airport, Asaba Delta State. It was concessioned to a private group of investors some years ago. Asaba is amongst the too 10 busiest airport in Nigeria