Cape Town’s status as one of the world’s most sought-after travel destinations has been underlined by a historic performance at its international airport, which handled a record-breaking 11.1 million two-way passengers in 2025.
Data released by Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) shows that international travel played a major role in the milestone, with 3.3 million two-way international passengers moving through the airport’s international terminal over the year. This represented a 7% increase compared to 2024, highlighting sustained global demand for Cape Town as a leisure and business destination. December proved particularly strong, with close to 364 000 international passengers recorded for the month alone, marking a 10% year-on-year rise, as reported by MoneyWeb.
Domestic travel also contributed significantly to the airport’s bumper year, with 7.8 million two-way local passengers recorded in 2025. This figure was likewise up 7% on the previous year, reflecting strong internal travel demand across South Africa.
Beyond passenger numbers, the airport also saw substantial growth in freight activity. Cargo volumes surged by 42% during the first ten months of 2025, rounding off what has been described as one of the most successful years in the airport’s history.
Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander said the figures point to real progress towards the Western Cape’s ambition of doubling tourism by 2035 as part of the province’s ‘Jobs for Growth’ strategy. She noted that tourism growth plays a critical role in driving economic expansion, boosting competitiveness and creating employment across communities.
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Stander, who also speaks for the Cape Town Air Access initiative, said strengthening air connectivity for both passengers and cargo remains a central focus, as it directly supports long-term economic development.
The strong summer season was supported by increased flight frequencies from several international airlines, including United Airlines, Delta, Condor, KLM, Norse Atlantic, Air France, TAAG, Qatar Airways and Proflight Zambia. Looking ahead, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Ethiopian Airlines have already confirmed plans to add more flights to Cape Town in 2026.
Further expansion is also on the horizon, with Latam Airlines announcing a new direct service between São Paulo and Cape Town from July 2026, operating three times a week. This route will mark the first direct link between the Mother City and South America. Air Tanzania has also launched a triangular route connecting Dar es Salaam, Victoria Falls and Cape Town, opening additional access to East Africa.
Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism Dr Ivan Meyer said rising tourism numbers translate directly into job creation across towns in the province, while Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth James Vos emphasised the role of tourism in supporting local businesses and employment.
According to Stander, the record performance was achieved through close collaboration between Cape Town Air Access partners, including Acsa, South African Tourism, the Western Cape Government, the City of Cape Town, Cape Town Tourism and private sector stakeholders.
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