Analytic Hierarchy Process assessment for potential multi-airport systems – The case of Cape Town

This paper discusses the application of an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) analysis for the assessment of a potential multi-airport development. The case study presented evaluates the potential introduction of a second airport in the City of Cape Town, which is currently served solely by Cape Town International Airport. With socioeconomic development, spatial planning, transportation improvement, environmental preservation and financial viability proposed as the main objectives of airport development, a survey of key stakeholders addressed the relative weighting of these criteria in the AHP. The multi-criteria decision-making assessment, as well as analyst judgement, concluded that the City of Cape Town should continue to utilise a single-airport system until passenger volumes per annum increase beyond the 27 Million Air Passengers per annum level.