Cape Town International Airport has topped 24 months of continued growth in international passenger numbers by reaching a record three million international two-way passengers in 2024.

This is a 10% increase on 2023’s international two-way traffic. Airports Company South Africa data, released by Cape Town Tourism and Wesgro, shows a number of positive trends for 2024 as a whole and the peak December period.

In December, one million two-way passengers made their way through the airport of which 533 829 were arrivals. All arrivals categories showed growth in December:

• 160 537 international arrivals were recorded (up by 3.75% compared to December 2023).
• Regional arrivals showed the biggest growth of 22.5% although this is off a low base of 10 491 arrivals.
• Domestic arrivals increased by 2.3% year-on-year, reaching 362 222 trips.

Enver Duminy, CEO of Cape Town Tourism, said: “These numbers show growing confidence in Cape Town as a destination that draws visitors from all corners. With enhanced air access and our city’s unmatched appeal – from locals rediscovering their home to international travellers exploring our world-famous attractions – Cape Town is a favourite for many.”

Wrenelle Stander, Wesgro CEO and official spokesperson for Cape Town Air Access, said: “These figures are a testament to the strength of our partnerships and the attractiveness of the Western Cape as a global destination for business and leisure travel. We are committed to expanding connectivity to our destination – helping bring the world to Cape Town and the Western Cape.”

According to Wesgro, air cargo also showed significant growth of 27% over the first 10 months of 2024 when compared with the same period in 2023.

While the figures are largely positive, all two-way traffic through the airport has still not recovered entirely from the impact of COVID-19. According to the data shared by Wesgro, 10.4 million two-way passengers used the airport in 2024, which is slightly lower than pre-pandemic numbers.

James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth at the City of Cape Town, said: “The Western Cape’s robust aviation sector plays a critical role in driving economic development. The sustained growth of Cape Town International Airport demonstrates the resilience of our economy and the value of collaboration between government and industry stakeholders. Together, we’ve ensured that our region remains competitive on the global stage.”