Cape Town International Airport recorded a historic milestone last year after handling a record 11.1 million two-way passengers across domestic and international flights, marking the first time the airport has crossed the 11-million mark.
Figures released by the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) show strong growth across all segments, underlining the airport’s growing importance to tourism, trade and the wider Western Cape economy.
December emerged as a standout month, with the airport recording just under 364,000 two-way international passengers. This represented a 10% year-on-year increase and marked another record-breaking festive season for Cape Town and the Western Cape. Overall, 1.12 million two-way passengers passed through the airport in December 2025 alone, reflecting an 8% increase compared to the previous year.
ACSA statistics indicate that a total of 3.3 million two-way international passengers travelled through Cape Town International Airport last year, a 7% increase compared to 2024. Domestic travel also showed strong performance, with two-way passenger numbers rising by 7% to reach 7.8 million.
In addition to passenger growth, the airport recorded a sharp increase in air cargo volumes. For the first ten months of the year, cargo volumes rose by 42% compared to 2024, highlighting the airport’s growing role as a key logistics hub for the Western Cape and the broader region.
City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, Alderman James Vos, welcomed the milestone, describing the aviation economy as a powerful driver of tourism and job creation.
“I’ve been holding thumbs for us to pass the 11-million-passenger mark, so this milestone is especially encouraging,” Vos said. “When passengers fly to Cape Town, they spend in our hotels, restaurants, and small businesses, directly supporting employment across the city.”
Vos noted that tourism already employs about 7% of Cape Town’s workforce and said the city aims to grow this figure beyond 10% in the coming years.
The record figures align with the Western Cape’s Growth for Jobs Strategy, which aims to double tourism by 2035. This objective was reaffirmed by Wrenelle Stander, spokesperson for Cape Town Air Access and CEO of Wesgro, the province’s official tourism, trade, and investment promotion agency.
“These record-breaking figures demonstrate that we are firmly on the road towards achieving this objective,” Stander said. “When you grow tourism, you stimulate growth, strengthen competitiveness, and create jobs in communities across the province.”
Looking ahead to 2026, Cape Town Air Access is expanding route offerings to support further tourism growth. From July, LATAM Airlines will introduce three weekly direct flights between São Paulo and Cape Town, becoming the first South American airline to operate direct services to the city.
Air Tanzania has also launched a triangular route linking Dar es Salaam, Victoria Falls and Cape Town, improving access for travellers moving between Southern and East Africa. Wesgro further noted planned frequency increases from several international carriers, including United, Delta, KLM, Qatar Airways, Air France and Ethiopian Airlines.
Provincial Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Dr Ivan Meyer, said the province remains focused on job creation through tourism growth.
“When tourism grows, jobs increase, and more opportunities are created for people in towns across the province,” he said.
