Cape Town International Airport

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use South African English

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Cape Town International Airport (Template:Comma separated entries), and sometimes abbreviated to CTIA, is the primary international airport serving the city of Cape Town, South Africa. It is the second-busiest airport in the country and fourth-busiest in Africa.

Located approximately Script error: No such module "convert". from the Cape Town CBD (the city's main economic hub), the airport was opened in 1954 to replace Cape Town's previous airport, Wingfield Aerodrome. Cape Town International Airport is the only airport in the Cape Town metropolitan area that offers scheduled passenger services. The airport has domestic and international terminals, linked by a common central terminal.

The airport has direct flights from South Africa's other two main urban areas, Johannesburg and Durban, as well as flights to smaller centres in South Africa. Internationally, it has direct flights to several destinations in Africa, and locations in the Middle East, Asia, Europe, South America, Australia, and the United States.

The air route between Cape Town and Johannesburg was the world's ninth-busiest air route in 2011 with an estimated 4.5 million passengers.[1]

According to Airports Company South Africa, CTIA achieved an on-time performance (OTP) of 90.42% in 2025; above its target.[2]

In 2025, Cape Town International was ranked as the Best Airport in the World in the AirHelp Score list, moving up one spot from the previous year. Based on visitor opinions, the airport performed particularly well in the categories of on-time performance and customer experience.[3][4]

History

D. F. Malan Airport was opened in 1954, a year after Jan Smuts Airport (now O. R. Tambo International Airport) on the Witwatersrand, near Johannesburg, opened. The airport replaced Cape Town's previous airport, Wingfield Aerodrome. Originally named Bellville Airport due to its proximity to the town of the same name, it initially served as a domestic airport. Then, at the request of the Bellville Federation of Taxpayers, the airport was renamed after the then South African prime minister. D.F. Malan National Airport soon achieved international airport status when a direct flight to Britain and a second flight to Britain via Johannesburg was introduced. [5] [6]

With the fall of apartheid in the early 1990s, ownership of the airport was transferred from the state to the newly formed Airports Company South Africa,[7] and the airport was renamed to the politically neutral Cape Town International Airport.[8] South African Airways launched a route to Miami in December 1992.[9] In January 2000, the carrier replaced it with a flight to Atlanta, whose outbound leg from Cape Town included a stop in Fort Lauderdale.[10]

The first years of the twenty-first century saw tremendous growth at the airport; from handling 6.2 million passengers per annum in 2004–05, the airport peaked at 8.4 million passengers per annum in 2007–08 before falling back to 7.8 million in 2008–09.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". In June 2008, Delta Air Lines started a flight to New York via Dakar. It used a Boeing 767 on the route.[11][12] Delta began flying to Atlanta instead the following June. The company terminated the route in September 2009.[13][14] In December 2011, Malaysia Airlines discontinued its service to Buenos Aires.[15][16]

In 2016, the airport saw a 29% increase in international arrivals; 2016 also saw the airport handle 10 million passengers per annum.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".[17] United Airlines commenced seasonal flights to Newark on a Boeing 787 in December 2019.[18] The route became year-round in 2022.[19] In October 2023, South African Airways inaugurated a link to São Paulo.[20]

On 16 April 2018, it was reported in the Cape Times that the Minister of Transport, Bonginkosi Nzimande, had directed ACSA on 22 March 2018 to change the name of Cape Town International Airport to Nelson Mandela International Airport.[21] The name change was discussed and as yet no name change had been published in the Government Gazette.[22]

On 5 March 2019, the EFF filed a motion in Parliament calling for Cape Town International Airport to be renamed for anti-apartheid activist Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. Some Khoi activists, meanwhile, argued for the airport to be named after the !Uriǁ'aeǀona translator Krotoa.[23] However, South Africa's Parliament was not constitutionally empowered to enact name changes: the South African Geographical Names Council (SAGNC) held that responsibility. The motion was unsuccessful.[24]

In February 2021, the Cape Times reported that the proposed name change of the airport had been "quietly ditched".[25]

In 2024, CTIA experienced its highest tourism passenger volumes on record. During 2024, the airport processed over 10 million passengers and 75,000 tons of cargo.[26] Despite this, in early 2025, the airport reported even higher transit figures, with an 8% increase in domestic travel, a 5% increase in international arrivals, and a 56% increase in cargo volumes.[27]

In October 2025, it was reported that, based on recent air travel statistics, numerous airlines were choosing to send an increasing number of outbound flights from SA via Cape Town International instead of via Johannesburg's O. R. Tambo International. Reasons include greater efficiency with immigration processing and reduced layover times in Cape Town, compared to Johannesburg.[28]

Infrastructure development

File:2011-02-08 15-08-48 South Africa - Crossroads.jpg
Apron view
File:2013.01.03 Ciudad del Cabo, ZA (28).JPG
Check-in hall
File:Cape Town International Airport Departures Area.jpg
Local and international departures area on the upper floor of the Central Terminal.
File:International Departures, Cape Town Airport.jpg
Interior of the international terminal

In preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Cape Town International Airport was extensively expanded and renovated. The main focus was the development of a Central Terminal Building at a cost of R1.6 billion,[29] which linked the formerly separate domestic and international terminals and provided a common check-in area.[30] The departures level of the Central Terminal opened in November 2009, with the entire building opened in April 2010.[29]

Apart from the now-completed 2010 expansion project, it had been proposed that a second runway for large aircraft be constructed at the airport, to be completed by 2015. However, this second runway has not been constructed. In May 2015, Airports Company South Africa announced a R7.7 billion expansion for the airport. The expansion includes the upgrades of the Domestic & International terminals. The expansion has been postponed indefinitely due to the drop in passenger numbers due to the global COVID-19 pandemic from 2020.[31]

Facilities

Terminals

The airport has two terminals linked together by one central terminal.

Central Terminal

The terminal building has a split-level design, with departures located on the upper floors and arrivals in the lower floors; an elevated roadway system provides vehicular access to both departures and arrivals levels.[30] All check-in takes place within the Central Terminal Building, which contains 120 check-in desks and 20 self-service kiosks.[30]

Passengers then pass through a consolidated security screening area before dividing. Passengers flying internationally head to the northern part of the airport which is the international terminal, and passengers flying to other parts of South Africa head to the southern part of the airport to the domestic terminal.

The terminal has 10 air bridges, evenly split between domestic and international usage. Sections of lower levels of the domestic and international terminals are used for transporting passengers via bus to and from remotely parked aircraft.[30]

Arriving passengers collect luggage in the old sections of their respective terminals, before proceeding through new passageways to the new Central Terminal Building.[29] The terminal contains an automated baggage handling system, capable of handling 30,000 bags per hour.[30]

Retail outlets are located on the lower (arrivals) level of the terminal at landside, as well as airside at the departure gates. Retail outlets are diverse, including foreign exchange services, bookstores, clothing retailers, grocery stores, souvenir outlets and duty-free in international departures.

Restaurants within the terminal building are located on the upper (3rd) level above the departures level, and include Ocean Basket, Mugg & Bean, Primi Cafe, Wimpy,[32] and what is purported to be the largest Spur restaurant on the African continent, at Script error: No such module "convert"..[30]

The restaurant level overlooks the airside of the terminal, where a glass curtain wall separates the patrons from the planes three stories below. On the 4th floor is where the airport's lounges are situated. The Bidvest, as well as South African Airways lounges, can be found there, as well as a Woolworths Food store.[32]

International Terminal

File:Cape Town International Airport.jpg
Terminals seen from apron

The international terminal is located on the northern side of the airport. Customs and Immigration facilities, lounges, duty-free shops, restaurants, prayer rooms, conference rooms, airline offices, and chapels are located in the terminal.

Domestic Terminal

Located on the southern side of the airport, it has the same facilities as the international terminal, with the exception of Immigration facilities.

Other facilities

There are two hotels located within the airport precinct: Hotel Verde, a four-star hotel owned by Bon Hotels and ranked as "Africa's greenest hotel",[33] and the other being Road Lodge, a budget hotel owned by the City Lodge hotel chain group. An ExecuJet facility is located near the southern end of the main runway and caters for business jets.

Airlines and destinations

During its peak tourist season, between November and March, Cape Town International maintains direct flights to 30 destinations across 35 routes, facilitated by 24 airlines and 228 flights per week.[27]


Passenger

Template:Airport destination list

Notes
  • <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^a Some Delta Air Lines flights from Atlanta to Cape Town operate via Johannesburg. However, all flights from Cape Town to Atlanta are nonstop.
  • <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^b Kenya Airways flights to Nairobi operate via Victoria Falls OR Livingstone.
  • <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^c Lusaka flights operate via Livingstone on the same flight number.
  • <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^d This flight operates via Johannesburg. However, this carrier does not have rights to transport passengers solely between Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Cargo

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Statistics

Passenger traffic

Template:Airport-Statistics

Annual passenger traffic for Cape Town International Airport[34]
Fiscal year International Regional Domestic Unscheduled Total
Passenger movements % Change Passenger movements % Change Passenger movements % Change Passenger movements % Change Passenger movements % Change
2004–05 1,176,958 no data 126,837 no data 4,895,048 no data 16,060 no data 6,214,903 no data
2005–06 1,167,661 Decrease0.8% 149,489 Increase17.9% 5,503,690 Increase12.4% 13,333 Decrease17.0% 6,834,173 Increase10.0%
2006–07 1,246,016 Increase6.7% 147,885 Decrease1.1% 6,107,405 Increase11.0% 17,237 Increase29.3% 7,518,543 Increase10.0%
2007–08 1,309,822 Increase5.1% 145,858 Decrease1.4% 6,950,061 Increase13.8% 20,877 Increase21.1% 8,426,618 Increase12.1%
2008–09 1,378,160 Increase5.2% 138,000 Decrease5.4% 6,283,132 Decrease9.6% 13,878 Decrease33.5% 7,813,170 Decrease7.3%
2009–10 1,284,990 Decrease6.8% 122,584 Decrease11.2% 6,391,079 Increase1.7% 11,416 Decrease17.7% 7,810,069 Decrease0.0%
2010–11 1,261,024 Decrease1.9% 122,609 Increase0.0% 6,781,143 Increase6.1% 35,771 Increase213% 8,200,547 Increase5.0%
2011–12 1,400,487 Increase11.1% 133,280 Increase8.7% 7,028,669 Increase3.7% 13,902 Decrease157% 8,576,338 Increase4.6%
2012–13 1,325,481 Decrease5.4% 144,148 Increase8.2% 6,951,577 Decrease1.1% 13,593 Decrease2.2% 8,434,799 Decrease1.7%
2013–14 1,355,524 Increase2.3% 143,356 Decrease0.7% 6,879,919 Decrease1.0% 14,190 Increase4.4% 8,392,989 Decrease0.5%
2014–15 1,452,360 Increase7.1% 150,602 Increase5.1% 7,142,907 Increase3.9% 10,003 Decrease41.9% 8,755,872 Increase4.3%
2015–16 1,564,464 Increase7.7% 179,775 Increase19.4% 7,902,362 Increase10.6% 12,988 Increase29.8% 9,659,589 Increase10.3%
2016–17 1,934,641 Increase23.7% 197,437 Increase9.8% 8,067,516 Increase2.1% 11,796 Decrease9.2% 10,211,390 Increase5.7%
2017–18 2,243,367 Increase16% 208,903 Increase5.8% 8,286,618 Increase2.7% 13,358 Increase13.2% 10,752,246 Increase5.3%
2018–19 2,406,594 Increase7.3% 195,617 Decrease6.4% 8,209,610 Decrease0.1% 11,916 Decrease10.8% 10,823,737 Increase0.1%
2019–20 2,356,225 Decrease2.1% 183,999 Decrease5.9% 8,137,246 Decrease0.9% 11,328 Decrease4.9% 10,688,798 Decrease1.2%
2020–21 156,433Template:Efn Decrease93.4% 15,484 Decrease91.6% 2,181,670 Decrease73.2% 32,534 Increase187.2% 2,386,121 Decrease77.7%
2021-22 751,278 Increase131% 80,384 Increase135% 4,853,699 Increase76% 15,450 Decrease53% 5,700,811 Increase82%
2022-23 2,174,073 Increase189% 149,299 Increase86% 6,062,223 Increase25% 22,156 Increase43% 8,407,751 Increase47%
2023-24 2,754,405 Increase23.6% 169,961 Increase12.9% 7,093,292 Increase15.7% 16,694 Decrease-12.1% 10,034,352 Increase17.6%
2024-25 2,900,341 Increase5.3% 208,684 Increase22.8% 7,372,093 Increase3.9% 13,876 Decrease-16.9% 10,494,994 Increase4.6%

Aircraft movements

Annual aircraft movements for Cape Town International Airport[35]
Fiscal year International Regional Domestic Unscheduled Total
Aircraft movements % Change Aircraft movements % Change Aircraft movements % Change Aircraft movements % Change Aircraft movements % Change
2004–05 4,355 no data 4,242 no data 56,810 no data 27,154 no data 92,561 no data
2005–06 4,296 Decrease1.4% 4,169 Decrease1.7% 58,099 Increase2.3% 22,326 Decrease17.8% 88,890 Decrease4.0%
2006–07 4,623 Increase7.6% 3,698 Decrease11.3% 60,470 Increase4.1% 22,602 Increase1.2% 91,393 Increase2.8%
2007–08 5,019 Increase8.6% 3,420 Decrease7.5% 69,819 Increase15.5% 24,027 Increase6.3% 102,285 Increase11.9%
2008–09 5,638 Increase12.3% 3,340 Decrease2.3% 65,623 Decrease6.0% 21,042 Decrease12.4% 95,643 Decrease6.5%
2009–10 4,884 Decrease13.4% 3,296 Decrease1.3% 65,020 Decrease0.9% 19,379 Decrease7.9% 92,579 Decrease3.2%
2010–11 4,868 Decrease0.3% 3,137 Decrease4.8% 66,587 Increase2.4% 19,031 Decrease1.8% 93,623 Increase1.1%
2012–13 4,906 Increase0.8% 3,557 Increase4.8% 62,065 Decrease6.7% 18,545 Decrease1.8% 89,073 Decrease4.9%
2013–14 4,961 Increase1.1% 2,855 Decrease4.8% 60,665 Decrease2.3% 20,092 Increase1.8% 88,573 Decrease0.6%
2014–15 5,091 Increase2.6% 3,135 Increase4.8% 64,269 Increase5.9% 18,651 Decrease1.8% 91,146 Increase2.9%
2015–16 5,568 Increase9.4% 4,783 Increase4.8% 70,731 Increase10% 19,139 Increase1.8% 100,221 Increase10%
2016–17 7,121 Increase27.9% 5,048 Increase4.8% 71,081 Increase0.5% 16,087 Decrease1.8% 99,337 Decrease0.9%
2017–18 9,206 Increase29.3% 5,048 Increase4.8% 72,110 Increase1.4% 16,252 Increase1.8% 103,001 Increase3.7%
2018–19 10,490 Increase13.9% 4,950 Decrease1.9% 67,328 Decrease6.6% 15,898 Decrease2.2% 98,666 Decrease4.2%
2019–20 10,154 Decrease3.2% 4,206 Decrease15.0% 65,372 Decrease2.9% 10,447 Decrease34.3% 90,179 Decrease8.6%
2020–21 1,369 Decrease86.5% 644 Decrease84.7% 20,287 Decrease69.0% 16,618 Increase59.1% 38,918 Decrease56.8%
2021–22 5,202 Increase280.0% 2,607 Increase304.8% 45,149 Increase122.6% 14,738 Decrease11.3% 67,696 Increase73.9%
2022–23 10,913 Increase109.8% 3,704 Increase42.1% 52,087 Increase15.4% 23,576 Increase60.0% 90,280 Increase33.4%
2023–24 14,184 Increase30.0% 3,993 Increase7.8% 61,482 Increase18.0% 19,479 Decrease17.4% 99,138 Increase9.8%

Ground transport

Car

Cape Town International Airport is approximately Script error: No such module "convert". from the city centre and is accessible from the N2 freeway, with Airport Approach Road providing a direct link between the N2 (at exit 16) and the airport. The airport can also be indirectly accessed from the R300 freeway via the M12, M10 and M22.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

The airport provides approximately 1,424 parking spaces in the general parking area, and 1,748 parking bays in the multi-storey car park located near the domestic terminal.[36] A new car park opened in 2010, which is located near the international terminal and provides an additional 4,000 parking spaces.[37] The airport also offers a valet parking service.[36]

Public transport

Transport to and from the airport is provided by metered taxis, e-hailing services (such as Uber and Bolt), and various private shuttle companies. The airport features a dedicated "drop & go" area for taxis and carpooling.

Rail link

There is no direct rail access to Cape Town International Airport. The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa has proposed a Script error: No such module "convert". rail link between the airport and Cape Town's existing suburban rail network.[38]

Accolades

In 2025, Cape Town International was ranked as the best airport in the world in the AirHelp Score list, shifting from its 2024 rank of second-best. Based on visitor opinions, the airport performed particularly well in the categories of on-time performance and customer experience.[3][4]

In the same year, CTIA was ranked the Best Airport in Africa, Best Airport Staff Service in Africa, and Cleanest Airport in Africa, in the 2025 Skytrax World Airport Awards. The award is based on Skytrax's customer satisfaction study, across 575 airports in 100 countries.[39]

Accidents and incidents

See also

Notes

Template:Notelist

References

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  29. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ a b c d e f Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  32. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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External links

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