Cape Town Air Access celebrates 10 years of connecting Cape Town and the Western Cape to the world
Cape Town Air Access (CTAA), powered by Wesgro, celebrated a decade of connecting Cape Town and the Western Cape to the world, during the annual review at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) to celebrate the initiative’s 10th anniversary.
Since its launch in 2015, the award-winning project has transformed Cape Town and the Western Cape into one of Africa’s most connected aviation hubs, securing 33 new international routes, adding 11 new African destinations, and driving an 80% increase in two-way passenger traffic at Cape Town International Airport’s international terminal.
In 2024, the international terminal surpassed the 3 million two-way passenger mark for the first time, with volumes now 18% above pre-pandemic levels. Cargo volumes also reached record highs, growing 25% in 2024 to 75,000 tonnes and accelerating by 56% in the first half of 2025. International seat capacity for the 2025/26 IATA winter season is set to climb 11%, placing capacity 38% above 2019 levels.
‘‘Ten years ago, Cape Town’s skies looked very different,’’ said Wesgro CEO, Wrenelle Stander. ‘‘Long-haul connections were limited. If you wanted to fly here from New York, from São Paulo, from much of Asia, you had to connect through Johannesburg, Dubai, or Europe.’’
It was out of this need that the Cape Town Air Access initiative was established in 2015, together with government and public sector partners. Faced with a connectivity gap as major airlines withdrew intercontinental flights from Cape Town, the initiative began with a clear vision to secure three new international routes, strengthen the African network, attract a direct U.S. connection, and address seasonality challenges.
Commenting on the project’s success, City of Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis noted: “Cape Town Air Access is one of the most successful public-private partnerships in South Africa. In just ten years, international connections have more than doubled, two-way seat capacity has grown to 3.8 million, and international arrivals to Cape Town have increased at an extraordinary rate of 7% per year, far outpacing national economic growth. This initiative shows what is possible when strong partnerships are backed by a clear vision: jobs are created, businesses thrive, and our city becomes more resilient and globally competitive.”
Additional milestones achieved by CTAA include:
- Growing international airlines serving Cape Town from 17 to 24.
- Expanding routes from 18 to 35, and destinations from 14 to 30.
- Increasing inbound flight frequencies from 5,150 to 9,180 annually.
- Securing direct U.S. flights, now operated by Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, connecting Cape Town to New York, Washington D.C., and Atlanta.
- Winning the Routes World Destination Award twice (2022 and 2023), with another nomination in 2025.
Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Dr Ivan Meyer, praised the project’s role in boosting regional competitiveness: “Cape Town Air Access has demonstrated the power of partnership in driving inclusive economic growth. By uniting public and private stakeholders around a shared vision, CTAA has created jobs, grown exports, and attracted investment to our province. It stands as a global benchmark for successful collaboration, showing what can be achieved when we work together to unlock new opportunities.”
City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, Alderman James Vos added: “This initiative has not only enhanced our city’s connectivity but also its competitiveness. Every new route represents more tourists in our hotels, more exports in our cargo holds, and more business deals being signed in Cape Town. Air access is the lifeblood of our economy, and Cape Town Air Access has proven to be a catalyst for prosperity and resilience. I especially value working with our airline partners and being part of the conversations that help motivate new routes. These aircrafts are not just filled with visitors, but also with investors and cargo, making every flight a driver of tourism, trade, and opportunity for our city.”
Stander concluded: “The next decade must be about innovation. More routes, deeper into Asia and North America. More Africa, positioning Cape Town as the natural southern gateway to the rest of the continent. More cargo, anchoring our role as a premium hub for perishables, biotech, and e-commerce. This is how Cape Town moves from being connected to being globally competitive. Ten years of delivery have shown what is possible. The next ten must deliver catalytic growth.”
