Promoting Synergy Between Cities and Airports for Sustainable Development

This report is a product of a pilot joint study investigating the synergies between aviation and urbanisation in Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Africa. During the pilot phase of this project, four metropolitan areas and their airports were selected: Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) – Bole International Airport, Nairobi (Kenya) – Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Wilson Airport, and Ekurhuleni – OR Tambo International Airport and Johannesburg - Lanseria international Airport (South Africa). The report also reviews aviation policies and urban development practices in all countries, including data collected from urbanisation and aviation stakeholders in the pilot countries. The project findings uncovered a degree of cooperation between airports and cities in each country, with the level of cooperation differing from country to country. The report recommends further research to ascertain the nature and extent of contributions of aviation to urban areas, to find out how resultant synergies can be harnessed for environmentally sustainable and socioeconomic growth of urban areas. It is also suggested that a better understanding of the coordination of impact of air traffic growth in land use patterns of the airport vicinity and the related socio-economic and environmental impacts along the airport-core city development corridor. Joint capacity development for aviation and urban stakeholders will be key in enhancing coordination between the two realms of development to fully harness synergies that will promote development.