Cape Town International Airport continues its impressive growth trajectory, maintaining an unbroken 29-month streak of international passenger increases that positions the Western Cape as South Africa’s premier tourism and trade gateway.
The latest figures from Wesgro’s Cape Town Air Access reveal sustained momentum in the province’s aviation industry. Despite a minor 1% dip in international traffic during June, year-to-date statistics paint a positive picture with international passenger volumes climbing 5% compared to the same period last year.
Domestic travel has also shown resilience, with June figures reflecting a 4% increase year-on-year, demonstrating the airport’s dual appeal to both local and international travellers.
The province’s aviation success extends beyond Cape Town, with George Airport handling over 66 000 two-way passengers in June alone, a solid 3% increase compared to the previous year.
Perhaps most striking is the Western Cape’s air cargo performance, which has emerged as a major economic driver. May figures show cargo volumes surpassing 7 700 metric tonnes, translating to an impressive 46% year-on-year increase.
Temperature and climate-controlled goods dominated shipments, accounting for 61% of total cargo volume. This trend highlights the growing importance of air freight in transporting the province’s high-value agricultural exports to global markets.
The sustained growth has captured the attention of major international carriers, with several announcing route expansions and extensions. Virgin Atlantic has extended its Cape Town–London Heathrow seasonal service, KLM has increased flight frequency to Amsterdam and FlySafair has launched new domestic routes to Hoedspruit and Mpumalanga.
These developments reflect growing airline confidence in Cape Town’s position as a globally connected hub for both tourism and trade.
Cape Town Air Access has received its third nomination for the prestigious Routes World Destination Award, recognizing the strategic collaboration between government, private sector, and international stakeholders in driving economic growth through targeted route development.
Economic impact and future outlook
The aviation sector’s robust performance aligns with the Western Cape’s broader economic development strategy, particularly in tourism and agricultural exports. The growth in climate-controlled cargo shipments underscores the province’s expanding role in global agricultural trade.
Noko Masipa, Western Cape Government spokesperson on Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, emphasized the significance of these achievements: “This data reaffirms that the Western Cape is not just open for business, but thriving. The sustained growth in tourism, air cargo, and route expansion speaks to the province’s readiness to scale its economic potential. We look forward to building on this momentum through ongoing partnerships and smart investment in infrastructure and export readiness.”
