STATEMENT BY THE MAYORAL COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH, ALDERMAN JAMES VOS
Cape Town’s aviation success driving jobs and economic opportunities
The latest performance figures out of Cape Town International Airport prove what we’ve long believed: aviation is a cornerstone of Cape Town’s economic growth mission.
In 2024, the airport welcomed over 10 million passengers and moved 75 000 tonnes of cargo. Already this year, we’re tracking an 8% increase in domestic travel, a 5% rise in international arrivals, and cargo volumes are up by a massive 56%. That’s real momentum.
From November through March, during the peak international schedule, 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. Remember, every 10 tourists create one job, according to Cape Town Tourism’s Economic Value of Tourism Report.
I am 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.
This is also the success story of the Air Access initiative, located within Wesgro, which just celebrated 10 years of existence. Through the City’s Economic Development and Investment Department, we provide funding and support to this programme, ensuring that Cape Town remains globally connected and competitive.
At the same time, we know that to maintain and expand this growth, we must match demand with world-class infrastructure. While Cape Town International Airport has rightly been voted 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. I will therefore be reaching out to the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) to continue motivating for these much-needed upgrades, because if we want more flights and more city-to-city connections, we must invest in the future of this airport.
We will continue building on this progress, because every new connection in the skies above Cape Town fuels growth and opportunity on the ground for our residents.
