Cape Town International Airport hits 11.1 million passengers in 2025, a historic high for one of Africa’s leading travel gateways. The milestone marks a significant recovery and expansion of air travel demand following the COVID-19 downturn, driven by strong tourism growth and enhanced air connectivity. According to Moneyweb journalist Ciaran Ryan and corroborated by Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) statistics, Cape Town’s airport processed 11.1 million two-way passengers across domestic and international flights in 2025.
This annual total represents the first time Cape Town International Airport has crossed the 11-million passenger threshold, underscoring its importance not only as a regional hub but also as a global tourism destination.
Passenger Traffic Growth and Key Figures
2025 Passenger Breakdown
- Total Two-Way Passengers: 11.1 million in 2025, an all-time annual record.
- International Passengers: 3.3 million two-way passengers, up 7 % year-on-year.
- Domestic Passengers: 7.8 million two-way passengers, also a 7 % increase.
- December 2025: 1.12 million two-way passengers (8 % increase), including ~364 000 international travellers (10 % year-on-year).
Airport cargo traffic also saw impressive gains, with volumes rising approximately 42 % in the first 10 months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, reflecting broader economic activity beyond passenger flows.
What Drove the Growth
Air Access and Connectivity Programs
Cape Town’s passenger surge is strongly linked to Cape Town Air Access initiatives, a long-term air-route development strategy that supports new services and improves connectivity to international markets.
Planned route expansions include LATAM Airlines’ direct service from São Paulo (GRU) to Cape Town (CPT) beginning in July 2026, establishing the airport’s first South America connection.
In addition, new triangular routes connecting East Africa (e.g., Dar es Salaam – Victoria Falls – Cape Town) are further expanding access across the continent.
Economic and Tourism Impact
These passenger figures reflect a strong rebound in tourism and business travel for the Western Cape region. Cape Town’s appeal as a destination is rising, not only for leisure but also for business and logistics operations.
Local government and tourism executives note that this aviation momentum supports job creation, broader economic participation, and investment in hospitality and infrastructure sectors.
Wesgro, the region’s investment and tourism promotion agency, has highlighted the role of improved air connectivity in stimulating growth. Officials noted that every additional route and flight contributes to local employment, hotel occupancy, hospitality revenues, and service-sector expansion.
Comparative Context
In 2019, before the pandemic, Cape Town International Airport handled roughly 10.9 million passengers. Surpassing 11 million in 2025 marks a return to, and a modest advance beyond, pre-COVID traffic levels.
Despite strong progress, the airport remains smaller in annual throughput than larger African hubs such as Johannesburg OR Tambo or Addis Ababa Bole, which handle significantly more passengers annually. However, the growth trajectory positions Cape Town as one of the continent’s fastest-recovering airports.
Industry Significance and Aviation Policy
Alignment with ICAO and IATA Trends
Cape Town’s performance aligns with broader ICAO forecasts of global passenger recovery, which project near or full return to 2019 traffic levels by the end of 2025 as international travel confidence rebounds. (ICAO publishes regular traffic trend reports and forecasts.)
IATA data also underscores increased demand for travel in emerging markets, particularly in Africa, where intra-continental connectivity is growing due to expanding route networks and airline partnerships.
Infrastructure and Regulatory Considerations
As passenger volumes continue to grow, infrastructure capacity, including terminal processing, apron space, and ground transport, will be critical. ACSA has ongoing initiatives to improve efficiency, digitalisation of passenger services, and runway capacity enhancements, all aligned with ICAO’s airport planning and safety standards.
What’s Next for Cape Town Aviation
Looking forward, aviation stakeholders expect:
- Continued route expansion with additional international carriers and destinations.
- Capacity investments to manage peak seasons and future growth.
- Enhanced regional connectivity to further strengthen the Western Cape’s role as a hub for Southern Africa.
Airport figures for late 2025 and 2026 will provide clearer insights into whether Cape Town can sustain or exceed its 11.1 million passenger benchmark in the medium term.
Sources
- Wesgro (Official Government & Tourism Source)
Cape Town International Airport Soars Past 11 Million Passengers in 2025 as Cape Town Air Access Powers Growth - Airspace Africa (Aviation-Focused Reporting)
Cape Town International Airport Breaks 11-Million Passenger Barrier in 2025 - TimesLIVE (National News Outlet)
Cape Town Airport breaks 11-million passenger mark as tourism, cargo surge - Engineering News (Transport & Aviation Sector Reporting)
Cape Town International recorded 11.1m two-way passengers in 2025 - Record Confirmation & Tourism Impact (Cape Argus / IOL)
Record-breaking 11.1 million travellers boost Western Cape tourism in 2025 - Time Out Cape Town (City-Level Aviation & Tourism Reporting)
Cape Town International sets all-time passenger record high
