Dr John Kasarda, born in 1945, is an American academic focused on global management strategy, entrepreneurship and economic development. He is the Kenan Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of North Carolina Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School and director of the business school’s nonprofit outreach arm, the Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise.

During the State of the City Address as well as the Budget Speech by the Executive Mayor, Clr Mondli Gungubele, the aerotropolis concept for Ekurhuleni was announced.

An Airport City is an efficiently designed international transport hub for both passengers and cargo with an urban character agglomerating uses associated with the old city centre, and providing a growing number of services and facilities not directly related to actual transport functions.

Ekurhuleni has a population of around 2.7 million people and contributes approximately 7% to national production and between 6% and 7% to the total economic output of Gauteng province. Its economy grew by an average of 2.7% per annum from 1996 to 2006.

• Over one-third of the value of all goods shipped worldwide travel by air.
• In a global economy there is a requirement for agility and speed to move high value goods and goods that are time dependent.
• Airports, as large public works, have become transportation nodal points.
• Between 2010 and 2029, world-wide commercial passenger traffic will likely increase from 4.6 billion to approximately 11 billion (30 million p/day).
• In the same period (2010 to 2029), world air cargo traffic is expected to more than triple.
• Air logistics and the new economy are inextricably interwoven.
• Over one-third of the value of world trade already goes by air (versus under 2% by weight).