Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in South Africa proudly etches its name in the annals of aviation history, breaking all previous records for international passenger traffic in a single month.
According to simpleflying.com, the resounding success not only underscores the airport’s capacity and appeal but also injects a staggering ZAR 1.9 billion ($99.7 million) into the Western Cape’s economy, a testament to the significant impact of tourism on the region.
The airport indicated that the historic international passenger numbers achieved in December 2023 beat the previous high of January 2020. Then, the airport welcomed 290,000 people from abroad at the airport, situated on the western coast of South Africa.
However, the airport also boasted about its record-breaking yearly international passenger numbers. In 2023, airlines brought in 2.8 million international travelers, with CPT overshadowing the 2.6 million international passengers it welcomed in 2019. In comparison, the airport only saw 1.5 million travelers from abroad in 2013, which means that it has almost doubled its international passenger numbers in a decade.
Mark Maclean, the Regional General Manager of Cape Town International Airport Cluster, first wished the airport’s passengers, partners, and stakeholders well for the upcoming year, adding that the airport was very pleased with its 2023 results. The executive said that the airport expects high passenger volumes to continue since travelers can still enjoy the Southern Hemisphere’s summer season.
“I thank all passengers and visitors for their cooperation and support when visiting the airport. We will now focus on the coming weeks as passengers return home, and the remainder of the peak season.”
Meanwhile, Wrenelle Stander, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Wesgro and the official spokesperson of Cape Town Air Access, said that the company was ecstatic about such growth at CPT. The achievement has reflected the efforts of the Cape Town Air Access partnership to enhance the region’s global connectivity, elevated by the continuous improvements of the team running the airport.
According to Mireille Wenger, the Provincial Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, the work done by Cape Town Air Access has been crucial in attracting international flights to CPT and the region. As a result of the record-breaking passenger numbers and subsequent foreign direct spending by the arriving tourists will ultimately help the local economy, providing more jobs for the locals, added Wenger.
International flights from CPT
According to data from the aviation analytics company Cirium, the airport was scheduled to be served by a total of 3,661 flights in January 2024. There were 866 one-way itineraries to international destinations during the month, excluding domestic flights.
The busiest destination in terms of flight numbers was Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH), Namibia, followed by London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Dubai International Airport (DXB). If sorted by seats, the most served route from CPT would be to DXB, followed by LHR, Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH), and Bole Addis Ababa International Airport (ADD).
British Airways offers the most international seats from the airport during the month, with the British carrier flying to CPT with either the Airbus A350-1000 or Boeing 777-300ER. Delta Air Lines, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines also serve the airport with either A350-1000 or A350-900 aircraft.
