Cape Town International Airport

Cape Town International Airport Template:Airport codes, and sometimes abbreviated to CTIA, is the primary international airport serving the city of Cape Town, and is the second-busiest airport in South Africa and fourth-busiest in Africa.

Located approximately Template:Convert from the Cape Town CBD (the city's main economic hub), the airport was opened in 1954 to replace Cape Town's previous airport, Wingfield Aerodrome. Cape Town International Airport is the only airport in the Cape Town metropolitan area that offers scheduled passenger services. The airport has domestic and international terminals, linked by a common central terminal.

The airport has direct flights from South Africa's other two main urban areas, Johannesburg and Durban, as well as flights to smaller centres in South Africa. Internationally, it has direct flights to several destinations in Africa, and locations in the Middle East, Asia, Europe, South America, Australia, and the United States.

The air route between Cape Town and Johannesburg was the world's ninth-busiest air route in 2011 with an estimated 4.5 million passengers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

According to Airports Company South Africa, CTIA achieved an on-time performance (OTP) of 90.42% in 2025; above its target.<ref name= "ACSA’s latest stats reveal the most on-time SA airlines and airports">Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2025, Cape Town International was ranked as the Best Airport in the World in the AirHelp Score list, moving up one spot from the previous year. Based on visitor opinions, the airport performed particularly well in the categories of on-time performance and customer experience.<ref name= "Cape Town International Airport ranked best airport in the world">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name= "Cape Town International Airport awarded title of best airport globally">Template:Cite web</ref>

History

D. F. Malan Airport was opened in 1954, a year after Jan Smuts Airport (now O. R. Tambo International Airport) on the Witwatersrand, near Johannesburg, opened. The airport replaced Cape Town's previous airport, Wingfield Aerodrome. Originally named Bellville Airport due to its proximity to the town of the same name, it initially served as a domestic airport. Then, at the request of the Bellville Federation of Taxpayers, the airport was renamed after the then South African prime minister. D.F. Malan National Airport soon achieved international airport status when a direct flight to Britain and a second flight to Britain via Johannesburg was introduced. <ref name=borehole>Template:Cite web</ref> <ref name=cpt-history>Template:Cite book</ref>

With the fall of apartheid in the early 1990s, ownership of the airport was transferred from the state to the newly formed Airports Company South Africa,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the airport was renamed to the politically neutral Cape Town International Airport.<ref name=cpt-airport-guide>Template:Cite web</ref> South African Airways launched a route to Miami in December 1992.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In January 2000, the carrier replaced it with a flight to Atlanta, whose outbound leg from Cape Town included a stop in Fort Lauderdale.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The first years of the twenty-first century saw tremendous growth at the airport; from handling 6.2 million passengers per annum in 2004–05, the airport peaked at 8.4 million passengers per annum in 2007–08 before falling back to 7.8 million in 2008–09.Template:Citation needed In June 2008, Delta Air Lines started a flight to New York via Dakar. It used a Boeing 767 on the route.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Delta began flying to Atlanta instead the following June. The company terminated the route in September 2009.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In December 2011, Malaysia Airlines discontinued its service to Buenos Aires.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2016, the airport saw a 29% increase in international arrivals; 2016 also saw the airport handle 10 million passengers per annum.Template:Citation needed<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> United Airlines commenced seasonal flights to Newark on a Boeing 787 in December 2019.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The route became year-round in 2022.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> In October 2023, South African Airways inaugurated a link to São Paulo.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On 16 April 2018, it was reported in the Cape Times that the Minister of Transport, Bonginkosi Nzimande, had directed ACSA on 22 March 2018 to change the name of Cape Town International Airport to Nelson Mandela International Airport.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The name change was discussed and as yet no name change had been published in the Government Gazette.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On 5 March 2019, the EFF filed a motion in Parliament calling for Cape Town International Airport to be renamed for anti-apartheid activist Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. Some Khoi activists, meanwhile, argued for the airport to be named after the !Uriǁ'aeǀona translator Krotoa.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, South Africa's Parliament was not constitutionally empowered to enact name changes: the South African Geographical Names Council (SAGNC) held that responsibility. The motion was unsuccessful.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In February 2021, the Cape Times reported that the proposed name change of the airport had been "quietly ditched".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2024, CTIA experienced its highest tourism passenger volumes on record. During 2024, the airport processed over 10 million passengers and 75,000 tons of cargo.<ref name= "Cape Town International Airport Is Doing So Well, There’s A Call For Urgent Upgrades">Template:Cite web</ref> Despite this, in early 2025, the airport reported even higher transit figures, with an 8% increase in domestic travel, a 5% increase in international arrivals, and a 56% increase in cargo volumes.<ref name= "Cape Town airport requires ‘urgent upgrades’ – MMC"></ref>

In October 2025, it was reported that, based on recent air travel statistics, numerous airlines were choosing to send an increasing number of outbound flights from SA via Cape Town International instead of via Johannesburg's O. R. Tambo International. Reasons include greater efficiency with immigration processing and reduced layover times in Cape Town, compared to Johannesburg.<ref name= "Outbound travellers increasingly bypass JNB">Template:Cite web</ref>

Infrastructure development

Apron view

Check-in hall

Local and international departures area on the upper floor of the Central Terminal.

Interior of the international terminal

In preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Cape Town International Airport was extensively expanded and renovated. The main focus was the development of a Central Terminal Building at a cost of R1.6 billion,<ref name=cpt-terminal2010-opens>Template:Cite news</ref> which linked the formerly separate domestic and international terminals and provided a common check-in area.<ref name=cpt-new-developments>Template:Cite web</ref> The departures level of the Central Terminal opened in November 2009, with the entire building opened in April 2010.<ref name=cpt-terminal2010-opens />

Apart from the now-completed 2010 expansion project, it had been proposed that a second runway for large aircraft be constructed at the airport, to be completed by 2015. However, this second runway has not been constructed. In May 2015, Airports Company South Africa announced a R7.7 billion expansion for the airport. The expansion includes the upgrades of the Domestic & International terminals. The expansion has been postponed indefinitely due to the drop in passenger numbers due to the global COVID-19 pandemic from 2020.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Facilities

Terminals

The airport has two terminals linked together by one central terminal.

Central Terminal

The terminal building has a split-level design, with departures located on the upper floors and arrivals in the lower floors; an elevated roadway system provides vehicular access to both departures and arrivals levels.<ref name=cpt-new-developments /> All check-in takes place within the Central Terminal Building, which contains 120 check-in desks and 20 self-service kiosks.<ref name=cpt-new-developments />

Passengers then pass through a consolidated security screening area before dividing. Passengers flying internationally head to the northern part of the airport which is the international terminal, and passengers flying to other parts of South Africa head to the southern part of the airport to the domestic terminal.

The terminal has 10 air bridges, evenly split between domestic and international usage. Sections of lower levels of the domestic and international terminals are used for transporting passengers via bus to and from remotely parked aircraft.<ref name=cpt-new-developments />

Arriving passengers collect luggage in the old sections of their respective terminals, before proceeding through new passageways to the new Central Terminal Building.<ref name=cpt-terminal2010-opens /> The terminal contains an automated baggage handling system, capable of handling 30,000 bags per hour.<ref name=cpt-new-developments />

Retail outlets are located on the lower (arrivals) level of the terminal at landside, as well as airside at the departure gates. Retail outlets are diverse, including foreign exchange services, bookstores, clothing retailers, grocery stores, souvenir outlets and duty-free in international departures.

Restaurants within the terminal building are located on the upper (3rd) level above the departures level, and include Ocean Basket, Mugg & Bean, Primi Cafe, Wimpy,<ref name= "Airport Facilities">Template:Cite web</ref> and what is purported to be the largest Spur restaurant on the African continent, at Template:Convert.<ref name=cpt-new-developments />

The restaurant level overlooks the airside of the terminal, where a glass curtain wall separates the patrons from the planes three stories below. On the 4th floor is where the airport's lounges are situated. The Bidvest, as well as South African Airways lounges, can be found there, as well as a Woolworths Food store.<ref name= "Airport Facilities" />

International Terminal

Terminals seen from apron

The international terminal is located on the northern side of the airport. Customs and Immigration facilities, lounges, duty-free shops, restaurants, prayer rooms, conference rooms, airline offices, and chapels are located in the terminal.

Domestic Terminal

Located on the southern side of the airport, it has the same facilities as the international terminal, with the exception of Immigration facilities.

Other facilities

There are two hotels located within the airport precinct: Hotel Verde, a four-star hotel owned by Bon Hotels and ranked as "Africa's greenest hotel",<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and the other being Road Lodge, a budget hotel owned by the City Lodge hotel chain group. An ExecuJet facility is located near the southern end of the main runway and caters for business jets.

Airlines and destinations

During its peak tourist season, between November and March, Cape Town International maintains direct flights to 30 destinations across 35 routes, facilitated by 24 airlines and 228 flights per week.<ref name= "Cape Town airport requires ‘urgent upgrades’ – MMC">Template:Cite web</ref>

Passenger

Notes

• Template:Note Some Delta Air Lines flights from Atlanta to Cape Town operate via Johannesburg. However, all flights from Cape Town to Atlanta are nonstop.
• Template:Note Kenya Airways flights to Nairobi operate via Victoria Falls and Livingstone.
• Template:Note Lusaka flights operate via Livingstone on the same flight number.
• Template:Note This flight operates via Johannesburg. However, this carrier does not have rights to transport passengers solely between Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Statistics

Passenger traffic

Annual passenger traffic for Cape Town International Airport<ref name=cpt-statistics-passengers>Template:Cite web</ref>

Fiscal year	International		Regional		Domestic		Unscheduled		Total
	Passenger movements	% Change	Passenger movements	% Change	Passenger movements	% Change	Passenger movements	% Change	Passenger movements	% Change
2004–05	1,176,958	no data	126,837	no data	4,895,048	no data	16,060	no data	6,214,903	no data
2005–06	1,167,661	Template:Decrease0.8%	149,489	Template:Increase17.9%	5,503,690	Template:Increase12.4%	13,333	Template:Decrease17.0%	6,834,173	Template:Increase10.0%
2006–07	1,246,016	Template:Increase6.7%	147,885	Template:Decrease1.1%	6,107,405	Template:Increase11.0%	17,237	Template:Increase29.3%	7,518,543	Template:Increase10.0%
2007–08	1,309,822	Template:Increase5.1%	145,858	Template:Decrease1.4%	6,950,061	Template:Increase13.8%	20,877	Template:Increase21.1%	8,426,618	Template:Increase12.1%
2008–09	1,378,160	Template:Increase5.2%	138,000	Template:Decrease5.4%	6,283,132	Template:Decrease9.6%	13,878	Template:Decrease33.5%	7,813,170	Template:Decrease7.3%
2009–10	1,284,990	Template:Decrease6.8%	122,584	Template:Decrease11.2%	6,391,079	Template:Increase1.7%	11,416	Template:Decrease17.7%	7,810,069	Template:Decrease0.0%
2010–11	1,261,024	Template:Decrease1.9%	122,609	Template:Increase0.0%	6,781,143	Template:Increase6.1%	35,771	Template:Increase213%	8,200,547	Template:Increase5.0%
2011–12	1,400,487	Template:Increase11.1%	133,280	Template:Increase8.7%	7,028,669	Template:Increase3.7%	13,902	Template:Decrease157%	8,576,338	Template:Increase4.6%
2012–13	1,325,481	Template:Decrease5.4%	144,148	Template:Increase8.2%	6,951,577	Template:Decrease1.1%	13,593	Template:Decrease2.2%	8,434,799	Template:Decrease1.7%
2013–14	1,355,524	Template:Increase2.3%	143,356	Template:Decrease0.7%	6,879,919	Template:Decrease1.0%	14,190	Template:Increase4.4%	8,392,989	Template:Decrease0.5%
2014–15	1,452,360	Template:Increase7.1%	150,602	Template:Increase5.1%	7,142,907	Template:Increase3.9%	10,003	Template:Decrease41.9%	8,755,872	Template:Increase4.3%
2015–16	1,564,464	Template:Increase7.7%	179,775	Template:Increase19.4%	7,902,362	Template:Increase10.6%	12,988	Template:Increase29.8%	9,659,589	Template:Increase10.3%
2016–17	1,934,641	Template:Increase23.7%	197,437	Template:Increase9.8%	8,067,516	Template:Increase2.1%	11,796	Template:Decrease9.2%	10,211,390	Template:Increase5.7%
2017–18	2,243,367	Template:Increase16%	208,903	Template:Increase5.8%	8,286,618	Template:Increase2.7%	13,358	Template:Increase13.2%	10,752,246	Template:Increase5.3%
2018–19	2,406,594	Template:Increase7.3%	195,617	Template:Decrease6.4%	8,209,610	Template:Decrease0.1%	11,916	Template:Decrease10.8%	10,823,737	Template:Increase0.1%
2019–20	2,356,225	Template:Decrease2.1%	183,999	Template:Decrease5.9%	8,137,246	Template:Decrease0.9%	11,328	Template:Decrease4.9%	10,688,798	Template:Decrease1.2%
2020–21	156,433Template:Efn	Template:Decrease93.4%	15,484	Template:Decrease91.6%	2,181,670	Template:Decrease73.2%	32,534	Template:Increase187.2%	2,386,121	Template:Decrease77.7%
2021-22	751,278	Template:Increase131%	80,384	Template:Increase135%	4,853,699	Template:Increase76%	15,450	Template:Decrease53%	5,700,811	Template:Increase82%
2022-23	2,174,073	Template:Increase189%	149,299	Template:Increase86%	6,062,223	Template:Increase25%	22,156	Template:Increase43%	8,407,751	Template:Increase47%
2023-24	2,754,405	Template:Increase23.6%	169,961	Template:Increase12.9%	7,093,292	Template:Increase15.7%	16,694	Template:Decrease-12.1%	10,034,352	Template:Increase17.6%
2024-25	2,900,341	Template:Increase5.3%	208,684	Template:Increase22.8%	7,372,093	Template:Increase3.9%	13,876	Template:Decrease-16.9%	10,494,994	Template:Increase4.6%

Aircraft movements

Annual aircraft movements for Cape Town International Airport<ref name=cpt-statistics-aircraft>Template:Cite web</ref>

Fiscal year	International		Regional		Domestic		Unscheduled		Total
	Aircraft movements	% Change	Aircraft movements	% Change	Aircraft movements	% Change	Aircraft movements	% Change	Aircraft movements	% Change
2004–05	4,355	no data	4,242	no data	56,810	no data	27,154	no data	92,561	no data
2005–06	4,296	Template:Decrease1.4%	4,169	Template:Decrease1.7%	58,099	Template:Increase2.3%	22,326	Template:Decrease17.8%	88,890	Template:Decrease4.0%
2006–07	4,623	Template:Increase7.6%	3,698	Template:Decrease11.3%	60,470	Template:Increase4.1%	22,602	Template:Increase1.2%	91,393	Template:Increase2.8%
2007–08	5,019	Template:Increase8.6%	3,420	Template:Decrease7.5%	69,819	Template:Increase15.5%	24,027	Template:Increase6.3%	102,285	Template:Increase11.9%
2008–09	5,638	Template:Increase12.3%	3,340	Template:Decrease2.3%	65,623	Template:Decrease6.0%	21,042	Template:Decrease12.4%	95,643	Template:Decrease6.5%
2009–10	4,884	Template:Decrease13.4%	3,296	Template:Decrease1.3%	65,020	Template:Decrease0.9%	19,379	Template:Decrease7.9%	92,579	Template:Decrease3.2%
2010–11	4,868	Template:Decrease0.3%	3,137	Template:Decrease4.8%	66,587	Template:Increase2.4%	19,031	Template:Decrease1.8%	93,623	Template:Increase1.1%
2012–13	4,906	Template:Increase0.8%	3,557	Template:Increase4.8%	62,065	Template:Decrease6.7%	18,545	Template:Decrease1.8%	89,073	Template:Decrease4.9%
2013–14	4,961	Template:Increase1.1%	2,855	Template:Decrease4.8%	60,665	Template:Decrease2.3%	20,092	Template:Increase1.8%	88,573	Template:Decrease0.6%
2014–15	5,091	Template:Increase2.6%	3,135	Template:Increase4.8%	64,269	Template:Increase5.9%	18,651	Template:Decrease1.8%	91,146	Template:Increase2.9%
2015–16	5,568	Template:Increase9.4%	4,783	Template:Increase4.8%	70,731	Template:Increase10%	19,139	Template:Increase1.8%	100,221	Template:Increase10%
2016–17	7,121	Template:Increase27.9%	5,048	Template:Increase4.8%	71,081	Template:Increase0.5%	16,087	Template:Decrease1.8%	99,337	Template:Decrease0.9%
2017–18	9,206	Template:Increase29.3%	5,048	Template:Increase4.8%	72,110	Template:Increase1.4%	16,252	Template:Increase1.8%	103,001	Template:Increase3.7%
2018–19	10,490	Template:Increase13.9%	4,950	Template:Decrease1.9%	67,328	Template:Decrease6.6%	15,898	Template:Decrease2.2%	98,666	Template:Decrease4.2%
2019–20	10,154	Template:Decrease3.2%	4,206	Template:Decrease15.0%	65,372	Template:Decrease2.9%	10,447	Template:Decrease34.3%	90,179	Template:Decrease8.6%
2020–21	1,369	Template:Decrease86.5%	644	Template:Decrease84.7%	20,287	Template:Decrease69.0%	16,618	Template:Increase59.1%	38,918	Template:Decrease56.8%
2021–22	5,202	Template:Increase280.0%	2,607	Template:Increase304.8%	45,149	Template:Increase122.6%	14,738	Template:Decrease11.3%	67,696	Template:Increase73.9%
2022–23	10,913	Template:Increase109.8%	3,704	Template:Increase42.1%	52,087	Template:Increase15.4%	23,576	Template:Increase60.0%	90,280	Template:Increase33.4%
2023–24	14,184	Template:Increase30.0%	3,993	Template:Increase7.8%	61,482	Template:Increase18.0%	19,479	Template:Decrease17.4%	99,138	Template:Increase9.8%

Ground transport

Car

Cape Town International Airport is approximately Template:Convert from the city centre and is accessible from the N2 freeway, with Airport Approach Road providing a direct link between the N2 (at exit 16) and the airport. The airport can also be indirectly accessed from the R300 freeway via the M12, M10 and M22.Template:Citation needed

The airport provides approximately 1,424 parking spaces in the general parking area, and 1,748 parking bays in the multi-storey car park located near the domestic terminal.<ref name=cpt-parking>Template:Cite web</ref> A new car park opened in 2010, which is located near the international terminal and provides an additional 4,000 parking spaces.<ref name=cpt-moreparking>Template:Cite news</ref> The airport also offers a valet parking service.<ref name=cpt-parking />

Public transport

Transport to and from the airport is provided by metered taxis, e-hailing services (such as Uber and Bolt), and various private shuttle companies. The airport features a dedicated "drop & go" area for taxis and carpooling.

Rail link

There is no direct rail access to Cape Town International Airport. The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa has proposed a Template:Convert rail link between the airport and Cape Town's existing suburban rail network.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Accolades

In 2025, Cape Town International was ranked as the best airport in the world in the AirHelp Score list, shifting from its 2024 rank of second-best. Based on visitor opinions, the airport performed particularly well in the categories of on-time performance and customer experience.<ref name="Cape Town International Airport ranked best airport in the world"/><ref name="Cape Town International Airport awarded title of best airport globally"/>

In the same year, CTIA was ranked the Best Airport in Africa, Best Airport Staff Service in Africa, and Cleanest Airport in Africa, in the 2025 Skytrax World Airport Awards. The award is based on Skytrax's customer satisfaction study, across 575 airports in 100 countries.<ref name= "Two South African airports ranked among the best in the world">Template:Cite web</ref>

Accidents and incidents

• On 7 November 2007, Nationwide Airlines Flight 723, a Boeing 737-200, had its right hand engine detach from the airframe during rotation. The pilots declared an emergency and safely landed at the airport saving all 112 occupants onboard without injury.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• List of airports in South Africa
• List of South African airports by passenger movements

External links

• Official website