Cape Town International Reaches New Passenger Milestone as Travel and Cargo Surge
Cape Town International Reaches New Passenger Milestone as Travel and Cargo Surge. Cape Town International Airport has reported its busiest year on record, with 11.1 million two way passengers travelling through the facility on domestic and international routes. It is the first time the airport has reached this milestone, according to statistics released by Airports Company South Africa.
December also set a new benchmark. The airport handled just under 364,000 two way international passengers during the month, contributing to what officials described as a strong festive season for travel in Cape Town and the Western Cape.
Overall, 3.3 million two way international passengers passed through the airport over the the year, representing a 7 percent increase compared with 2024. Domestic travel followed a similar trend, rising by 7 percent to reach 7.8 million two way passengers.
Air cargo volumes also showed notable growth. For the first ten months of the year, cargo throughput increased by 42 percent compared with the same period in 2024, underscoring the airport’s role in supporting the Western Cape logistics sector.
Festive season demand further boosted traffic. In December alone, 1.12 million two way passengers moved through the airport, an 8 percent year on year increase and another record setting performance for the province during the holiday period.
City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, Alderman James Vos, said the aviation economy remains a powerful driver of tourism and broader economic activity. He noted that visitor spending supports hotels, restaurants and small businesses across the city.
Vos added that tourism already accounts for 7 percent of local employment and expressed an ambition to see that figure rise beyond 10 percent. Provincial leaders have linked aviation growth to wider development goals under the Western Cape Growth for Jobs Strategy.
Wrenelle Stander of Cape Town Air Access and Wesgro said the latest figures point to continued progress toward long term tourism expansion. She stated that growing visitor numbers help strengthen competitiveness and support job creation across communities in the province.
Cape Town Air Access is expanding connectivity in 2026. From July, LATAM Airlines will introduce three weekly flights between São Paulo and Cape Town, becoming the first South American carrier to operate direct services on the route. Air Tanzania has also launched a triangular service linking Dar es Salaam, Victoria Falls and Cape Town.
Additional frequency increases are planned by several international carriers, further strengthening Cape Town’s global air links as the province heads into the new year.
