On Wednesday, 18 March, the 2026 Skytrax World Airport Awards took place during the Passenger Terminal EXPO in London. Based on the world’s largest annual airport customer satisfaction survey, the Skytrax World Airport Awards are considered the most prestigious awards in the aviation business.
The awards honour achievement in a number of important performance metrics, such as overall passenger experience, efficiency, cleanliness, and customer service.
Reportedly, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) received high accolades at the ceremony, with several of the airports across its network delivering a great performance across the rankings.
Cape Town International Airport took the lead, being recognised as the Best Airport in Africa for the 11th consecutive year. The airport also received awards for Best Airport Staff in Africa and Cleanest Airport in Africa.
This outstanding accomplishment highlights the airport’s ongoing commitment to providing exceptional customer service and ensuring a quality passenger experience.
The second-highest ranking South African airport was O.R. Tambo International Airport in Gauteng. The airport ranked:
- 2nd Best Airport in Africa
- Top 5 Airport Hotels in Africa for the InterContinental Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport hotel
The King Shaka International Airport in KwaZulu-Natal also performed admirably, ranking:
- 4th Best Airport in Africa
- 2nd Best Regional Airport in Africa
- 10th in the global 5-10 million passenger category.
Other airports in ACSA’s network also performed well at the ceremony, including:
- Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (Gqeberha) – 4th Best Regional Airport in Africa
- Bram Fischer International Airport (Bloemfontein) – 5th Best Regional Airport in Africa
- King Phalo Airport (East London) – 6th Best Regional Airport in Africa
These awards only reaffirm ACSA’s dedication to providing top-notch airport infrastructure, operational excellence, and an exceptional passenger experience. Ms. Fani Mphaphuli, the Acting Group Executive for Operations Management, praised the ACSA’s performance at the Airport Awards.
Mphaphuli stated, ‘These prestigious recognitions from the Skytrax World Airport Awards are a powerful affirmation of the dedication, resilience, and professionalism of our employees, partners, and stakeholders across the country.’
‘We are immensely proud of our people, who consistently go above and beyond to deliver safe, efficient, and seamless travel experiences to millions of passengers. These awards not only celebrate excellence but also inspire us to continue raising the bar as we position South Africa as a leading aviation hub on the African continent.‘
ACSA’s ongoing success at these awards is a reflection of its strategic focus on infrastructure development, customer-centric innovation, and operational quality, which guarantees that its airports stay globally competitive and adaptable to changing passenger needs.
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