Cape Town Air Access (CTAA), powered by Wesgro, has marked its 10-year anniversary by releasing data on some of its successes over the past decade.
Since its launch in 2015, the initiative has secured 33 new international routes, added 11 African destinations and driven an 80% increase in two-way international passenger traffic at Cape Town International Airport.
In 2024, the international terminal surpassed the three million two-way passenger mark for the first time with volumes now 18% above pre-pandemic levels.
Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander said: “10 years ago, Cape Town’s skies looked very different. 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.”
The initiative began with a mandate to secure three new international routes, strengthen the African network, attract a direct US connection and address seasonality.
City of Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said: “Cape Town Air Access is one of the most successful public-private partnerships in South Africa. In just 10 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.”
Key achievements include:
- International airlines serving Cape Town up from 17 to 24
- Routes expanded from 18 to 35 and destinations from 14 to 30
- Inbound flight frequencies increased from 5 150 to 9 180 annually
- Securing direct US flights with Delta Air Lines and United Airlines to New York, Washington DC and Atlanta
Looking ahead, Stander said the next decade will focus on expanding further into Asia and North America, strengthening Africa as a key market. “10 years of delivery have shown what is possible. The next 10 must deliver catalytic growth,” she said.
