ACSA reports rising passenger volumes driven by international travel, as Cape Town International approaches capacity and prepares for major infrastructure expansion.
By Robin Rabec
Passenger volumes across Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) have exceeded previous peak summer levels, with traffic now running approximately 9% higher than comparable periods. The growth is being driven primarily by international travel, as airlines increase both route offerings and flight frequencies into the country.
ACSA Chief Executive Officer Mpumi Mpofu confirmed that while domestic passenger numbers have stabilised across the network, international traffic is showing the most notable increase. The rise reflects a combination of new route development and expanded capacity from existing carriers, contributing to an overall increase of around 7% across the system.
Cape Town International Airport has emerged as a focal point of this growth, recording approximately 11 million passengers during the 2025 financial year. The figure places the airport closer to its current infrastructure capacity, which is estimated at 15 million passengers per annum.
In response, ACSA has initiated a long-term infrastructure programme aimed at expanding capacity ahead of projected demand. A R21 billion investment plan has been announced to upgrade facilities across its airport network, with Cape Town International identified as a priority.
Planned developments at Cape Town include the formal separation of domestic and international terminals, expansion of terminal buildings, and upgrades to apron areas to increase aircraft parking capacity. The airport will also be enhanced to accommodate Code F aircraft, requiring additional passenger boarding bridges and handling infrastructure.
Further strengthening the expansion programme, environmental approval has been secured for the construction of a new 3,500-metre realigned runway. The project, valued at approximately R6.3 billion, forms part of a broader strategy to support long-term traffic growth and operational resilience.
ACSA’s planning approach is based on maintaining a capacity buffer ahead of demand. With Cape Town approaching its current limits, the objective is to ensure that infrastructure expansion is implemented well in advance of passenger growth reaching critical thresholds.
The development programme is aligned with a seven-year planning horizon, allowing the airport to scale beyond its current capacity while maintaining operational stability. As passenger volumes continue to recover and expand, infrastructure readiness remains a key factor in supporting sustainable growth across South Africa’s aviation sector.
SOURCE AND IMAGE: Robin Rabec – Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) – CEO commentary (Mpumi Mpofu), via industry briefing (2026)
