Cape Town International Airport has officially surpassed 11 million passengers in 2025, marking a historic milestone for both the airport and the Western Cape’s tourism and aviation sectors.
According to data from Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), the airport handled 11.1 million two-way domestic and international passengers over the year – the highest figure on record.
International travel showed particularly strong growth, with 3.3 million two-way international passengers, up 7% year-on-year. Domestic travel also increased by 7%, reaching 7.8 million passengers.
December 2025 was the busiest festive season ever recorded at the airport, with 1.12 million two-way passengers passing through the terminals. Air cargo volumes also surged, increasing by 42% in the first ten months of the year, highlighting growing trade activity through the city.
Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Opportunities and Tourism, James Vos, said the milestone reflects the success of Cape Town’s air access strategy.
“One of the most rewarding parts of my role is working with our Air Access team to secure new routes and, importantly, more direct flights to Cape Town. I’ve been holding thumbs for us to pass the 11-million-passenger mark, so this milestone is especially encouraging,” Vos said.
He added that the aviation economy is a powerful driver of growth across multiple sectors.
“When passengers fly to Cape Town, they spend in our hotels, restaurants and small businesses, directly supporting employment across the city. The aviation economy is a key catalyst for economic growth and job creation.”
Vos noted that tourism already employs nearly 7% of the city’s workforce, and said his focus is on growing this number through targeted air access and destination marketing.
“My priority is to ensure that everything we do – from flights to campaigns – delivers real results for residents and businesses,” he said.
The strong performance is being attributed to expanded international and domestic routes, increased flight frequencies and coordinated destination marketing, positioning Cape Town International Airport for continued growth in the years ahead.
