For the second year in a row, the Cape Town Air Access (CTAA) initiative has won the Routes World Destination Award at the Routes World Air Service Development Conference (Routes World 2023, held in Istanbul, Türkiye). CTAA is a public-private partnership, to promote Cape Town International Airport as a destination for international airlines, that is headed by Western Cape provincial trade, investment and tourism promotion agency Wesgro.

“The Air Access initiative, powered by Wesgro, is a perfect example of how the public and private sector can work together to boost economic growth and job creation by increasing connectivity,” highlighted Western Cape Finance and Economic Opportunities Minister Mireille Wenger. “More tourists mean more jobs in the Western Cape, and I extend my congratulations to the Air Access team and to Wesgro for the well-deserved recognition in being awarded the Routes World Destination Award for the second year in a row.”

Routes World aims to strengthen air services and establish new routes, worldwide. It does so by providing a joint forum for airlines, airports and other stakeholders in the global aviation industry. At the 2023 conference, CTAA had, for the first time, its own dedicated stand. The display highlighted CTAA’s adherence to sustainable practices because the stand was built entirely of recycled material and is also re-pulpable and will ultimately become biodegradable soil nutrient.

“To win the Routes World Destination Award for the second time in a row reflects the exceptional dedication and commitment demonstrated by the [CTAA] team, alongside our key partners, to unlock the full potential of Cape Town and the Western Cape’s aviation landscape,” affirmed Wesgro CEO and CTAA official spokesperson Wrenelle Stander. “It’s also worth noting that our participation at Routes World 2023 was more than just a showcase of key achievements, but it cemented our commitment to sustainable practices, as we unveiled a stand that not only highlighted the potential of our region but did so in an environmentally conscious manner.”

Since the Routes World 2022 conference, CTAA has assisted in the adding of seven new international routes to Cape Town, with seven new airlines serving the city and province. Year-on-year, this Cape Town peak season (running from November this year to March next year) should be served by a 25% greater airline seat capacity (with an associated increase of 18% in air cargo capacity). CTAA has identified as priority routes, to develop for direct flights, Australia, China, India, Ireland and Nigeria.