State-owned airports management company Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) says its network processed more than four-million passengers in December 2025, which is a 98% recovery compared with pre-pandemic levels and an 8% year-on-year increase in total traffic.

The strong rebound was driven by the restoration of key international routes, new airline entrants and increased flight frequencies.

The network had its busiest day on December 12, during which it processed 143 135 passengers and recorded 1 352 air traffic movements. OR Tambo International Airport, Cape Town International Airport and King Shaka International Airport all exceeded their traffic projections.

Further, two airports in the ACSA network saw record-breaking passenger numbers for 2025, namely Cape Town International Airport, which exceeded 11.11-million passengers for the year, and George Airport, which processed 911 354 passengers.

The ACSA network’s on-time performance (OTP) averaged 77.5%, against a target of 88.5%. This was primarily driven by external factors, specifically severe inclement weather in Europe, which delayed incoming international aircraft.

Domestic flights showed greater resilience with a 79% OTP, compared with 71% for international flights, ACSA says.

It reports that its infrastructure performed admirably throughout the peak period and was supported by a comprehensive resource plan that allowed the network to handle a significant increase in passenger volumes and aircraft movements.

Additionally, operational challenges, such as weather disruptions, were managed swiftly to minimise the impact on passengers, it says.

The travel sector has been marked by persistent demand and ACSA looks forward to continued growth in passenger and cargo traffic in the coming 2026/27 financial year. It is also encouraged by the anticipated expansion of international routes and the addition of new airlines.

ACSA says it remains focused on recovering its pre-pandemic position while diversifying its revenue streams to mitigate risks in the aviation sector.

Additionally, passenger traffic in South Africa is expected to return to 2019 levels and the financial health and stability of the industry have shown significant improvement, as evidenced by the recovery in profitability.

ACSA is committed to elevating the passenger experience and proactively investing in infrastructure upgrades, digital innovations and operational enhancements to accommodate anticipated traffic growth across its network.

This is part of its pursuit of operational excellence to ensure every journey through the network meets the high standards passengers expect, it adds.