Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) achieved a historic milestone in 2025, handling more than 11 million passengers for the first time and underscoring the Western Cape’s accelerating appeal as a global tourism and business destination.
According to official data released by Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), the airport recorded 11.1 million two-way passengers (arrivals and departures combined) across domestic and international services during the year. The figure represents robust growth in both market segments and cements CTIA’s position as one of Africa’s busiest and fastest-recovering gateways.
International traffic led the charge, with 3.3 million two-way passengers, a 7% increase year-on-year and a new all-time record for the airport. Domestic travel mirrored the strong performance, rising 7% to reach 7.8 million passengers.
The festive season provided a fitting climax to the year. December 2025 delivered the busiest month on record, with 1.12 million two-way passengers moving through the terminal during the peak summer holiday period.
Beyond passenger numbers, air cargo volumes showed exceptional strength, surging 42% in the first ten months of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024. The sharp rise highlights growing export demand particularly in perishables, wine, and other high-value goods, as well as increased import activity supporting the province’s economic expansion.
The record-breaking performance aligns closely with the Western Cape government’s long-term ambition to double tourism by 2035. Strong passenger growth at Cape Town International is seen as a critical enabler of that goal, fuelling direct economic benefits through visitor spending, job creation in hospitality, transport, retail and related sectors, and enhanced global connectivity.
Airport officials noted that the sustained upward trend reflects improved airline capacity, the return of key long-haul routes, and Cape Town’s enduring popularity among international leisure and business travellers. The city’s combination of natural beauty, cultural offerings, and status as a gateway to the broader Western Cape region continues to draw record visitor numbers.
With international arrivals now well above pre-pandemic levels and domestic demand showing consistent strength, 2025’s results position Cape Town International Airport for further expansion. Infrastructure upgrades, terminal enhancements and ongoing efforts to attract new carriers are expected to support continued growth in the years ahead.
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