Air Belgium’s inaugural flight from Brussels has completed its triangular route in South Africa, touching down at Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) at 11h00 today (Monday, September 19) after its initial landing at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday, September 15. 

As previously reported by Tourism Update, the leisure-oriented Belgian airline will operate two tag flights to Cape Town via Johannesburg from Brussels per week (BRU-JNB-CPT-JNB-BRU). The Johannesburg and Cape Town routes are currently the airline’s only continental Africa flights. 

“The news of more flights direct to Cape Town is so very welcome and is yet more information pointing to a bumper upcoming summer season. I am very pleased to be able to welcome Air Belgium’s direct flights to Cape Town which can only bring benefits of increased tourism and trade opportunities between the Western Cape and Belgium,” said Western Cape Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger. 

In 2019, two-way international passenger volumes between Belgium and Cape Town exceeded 35 000 passengers, amounting to a compound annual growth rate of 10% each year between 2015 and 2019. In the first six months of 2022, two-way passenger traffic showed a 50% recovery rate when compared with 2019, with 8 300 passengers flying between Brussels and Cape Town. 

In terms of exports, Belgium is the Western Cape’s seventh-largest European export market, with R2.61bn (€181m) worth of goods exported in 2021, up 81.5% from 2020. 

Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander, said: “Having a direct connection (to Brussels) is extremely valuable for business and tourism. We also look forward to the increased cargo potential offered by the route as it is expected that the service will add over 1 500 tonnes of cargo capacity in the first season.”

The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, Alderman James Vos, said the flight was another significant moment in Cape Town’s Air Access programme, which has added 20 new international routes and more than 1.5 million seats to CTIA’s operations since 2015. 

“Enhancing Cape Town’s connectivity to other hubs across the globe improves the city’s competitiveness, leading to more trade, investment and economic growth. During my engagements with Air Belgium and the Consul-General of Belgium we discussed the many benefits of this route between our two regions when it comes to travel and trade opportunities. Improved connectivity in air cargo and travellers enhances the level of productivity, opens up new markets, boosts exports and increases tourism.”