Between November 2025 and March 2026, Cape Town will be directly connected by 24 airlines operating 228 weekly flights across 35 routes to 30 global destinations, marking a major boost for the world-renowned city’s economy and tourism sector
The City of Cape Town said 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 as 10 tourists create one job, according to Cape Town Tourism’s Economic Value of Tourism Report.
The Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth in Cape Town, Alderman James Vos, said he is proud to work hand in hand with airlines, negotiating for new routes and increased frequencies.
Vos said 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,” he said.
Vos said 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.”
