Cape Town International Airport passenger and cargo volumes hit record highs in 2024/25

Air cargo and passenger levels at Cape Town International are soaring thanks to the Cape Town Air Access (CTAA) public-private partnership, which this month shared impressive growth figures to mark its tenth anniversary. 

The CTAA, which held its annual review last week at the CT International Convention Centre, says the partnership helped position Cape Town as a regional aviation hub, with 33 new international routes since partnership launch in 2015.  

In that time the airport has seen an 80% increase in two-way passenger traffic. 

The partnership is led by Wesgro, Cape Town and the Western Cape’s Tourism, Trade and Investment promotion organisation. 

“In 2024, the international terminal surpassed the 3 million two-way passenger mark for the first time, with volumes now 18% above pre-pandemic levels,” Wesgro said in a press release this week. “Cargo volumes also reached record highs, growing 25% in 2024 to 75,000 tonnes and accelerating by 56% in the first half of 2025. International seat capacity for the 2025/26 IATA winter season is set to climb 11%, placing capacity 38% above 2019 levels.” 

Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander said the partnership had generated impressive growth: ‘‘Ten years ago, Cape Town’s skies looked very different,’’ Stander said. ‘‘Long-haul connections were limited. If you wanted to fly here from New York, from São Paulo, from much of Asia, you had to connect through Johannesburg, Dubai, or Europe.’’ 

Cape Chamber President Jacques Moolman said the project’s success highlighted the importance of public-private partnership in unlocking economic growth. “There’s no doubt that these partnerships are effective, and an efficient use of resources and expertise. We need more of these partnerships to unlock more value in other sectors. There is huge potential,”  Moolman said.