Cape Town: Aviation success of the city is driving jobs and economic opportunities. The latest performance figures out of Cape Town International Airport proves what they have long believed, aviation as a cornerstone, for economic growth mission.
Considering this, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Growth – Alderman James Vos stated that the airport welcomed over 10 million passengers in 2024 and moved 75,000 tonnes of cargo.
They are tracking and 8% increase in domestic travel this year and 5% rise in international arrivals with cargo volumes that are up by a massive 56% and that is the real momentum.
During the peak international schedule from November to March, Cape Town will be directly connected by 24 airlines, flying to 30 destinations across 35 routes, with 228 flights each week.
Each one of these connections represents far more than just a seat on a plane. It means new jobs, thriving businesses and expanded opportunities for Capetonians. As per the stats presented in Cape Town Tourism’s Economic Value of Tourism Report, every 10 tourists create one job.
Alderman James Vos stated that he is proud to work hand in hand with airlines, negotiating for new routes and increased frequencies. These results don’t just happen; they are the outcome of hard work and strong sustained partnerships between government and the private sector.
Reportedly, Air Access initiative within Wesgro, celebrated 10 years of existence. With Economic Development and Investment Department of the City of Cape Town has provided funding and support to this programme, ensuring that Cape Town remains globally connected and competitive.
At the same time, they know how to maintain and expand this growth, they must match demand with world-class infrastructure. While Cape Town International Airport has rightly been voted as Africa’s best in several categories, it has now reached the point where urgent upgrades are needed.
This includes additional runway capacity, terminal building expansion, and improved cargo handling facilities. Vos said that he will therefore reach out to the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) to continue motivating for these much-needed upgrades because if they want more flights and more city-to-city connections, they must invest in the future of this airport.
Further, they will continue to build on this progress, because every new connection in the skies above Cape Town fuels growth and opportunity on the ground for the residents.