Cape Town International Airport is showing signs of recovery since international air travel resumed after restrictions were eased. The period of the first three weeks of August as compared with the same period in 2019, before the Covid pandemic, has had its highest recovery rate post-lockdown since October 2020.
Flights during the first three weeks of August were on average 84% full, the highest level recorded so far this year. In 2019, international travellers passing through Cape Town’s airport were 122 599, and in 2019, total international passengers were 25 477, 21% of the same period in 2019.
Although this is almost 100 000 passengers less, the first three weeks of August recorded the highest percentage of the passenger volume recorded when compared to the first three weeks of August in 2019.
When looking at domestic passenger numbers in the same period, Cape Town Air Access calculated the passenger recovery to be 36%.
When looking at the number of international airline capacity, Cape Town Air Access looked at the number of international arrivals and departures to compare the same periods. The data revealed 758 air traffic movements in 2019, compared to 377 in 2021. Cape Town Air Access thus calculated the international airline capacity to be 50%.
International flights to Cape Town have started to trickle in, with Singapore Airlines, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic and SAA all announcing a recommencement of services
Recovery is expected to continue with the reintroduction of carrier routes as travel restrictions are relaxed in major source markets and increasing vaccination rates, travel might slowly recover.
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