Cape Town Air Access, a division of the Western Cape tourism, trade and investment promotion agency Wesgro, reports (in its latest Route Network Update) that Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) has continued its recovery from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Last month, passenger traffic through the airport was at 72% of the levels in February 2019. Because of this recovery, this will be the second-last Route Network Update to contain comparisons with (pre-pandemic) 2019 figures.

Regarding international air passenger traffic, the numbers recorded in January this year were 186% higher than for January last year. The figure for February was up 106%, also in year-on-year terms.

In numbers, in October last year the number of passengers passing through CTIA’s international terminal came to 175 648, or 83% of 2019 levels. In November, it was 211 944, which was 84% of November 2019 figures. December saw the number reach 270 433, or 96% of the equivalent 2019 numbers. In January this year, the figure was 280 430 (97% of the January 2019 number), while February recorded 259 970 (no less than 100% of the February 2019 figure).

Regarding domestic air passenger traffic, this amounted to 507 000 travellers last month, which was 72% of the level of February 2019. In October last year, CTIA’s domestic terminal handled 528 817 passengers, or 73% of those in October 2019. November last year saw 510 108 domestic passengers use the airport, which was also 73% of the figure recorded in that same month in 2019. The number for December was  569 693, or 72% of the December 2019 total. In January this year, CTIA reported 515 017 domestic passengers, which was 74% of the January 2019 number. In February, 507 787 people passed through CTIA’s domestic terminal, representing 72% of the traffic recorded in February 2019.

Air cargo through CTIA has also continued its recovery. Last year, 52 393 t were moved through the airport, which was 83% of the levels recorded in 2019. In 2021, CTIA handled 41 665 t of air cargo (66% of the 2019 amount), and in 2020, 31 929 t (51% of the figure for 2019). The airport handled 63 015 t of air cargo in 2019.