Public-private partnership initiative Cape Town Air Access (CTAA) welcomes the announcement by major South American airline group LATAM that it will institute a direct service between Cape Town and São Paulo, Brazil, next year. CTAA is led by Western Cape trade, tourism and investment promotion agency Wesgro.

“We are excited to welcome LATAM Airlines to Cape Town,” enthused CTAA official spokesperson and Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander. “This milestone directly supports our strategy to unlock access to high-growth markets, including Brazil. As we continue expanding Cape Town’s global reach, this direct service will open new and exciting opportunities for trade, investment and tourism, driving meaningful economic impact for the region.”

Starting in September next year, LATAM would operate three flights a week between the two cities. They will be operated using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner widebody airliners. The new Cape Town route is part of a major network expansion by LATAM, which embraces more than 60 destinations within Brazil, as well as international routes to Belgium and the Netherlands, in addition to Cape Town.

“This announcement has me genuinely excited,” emphasised Cape Town Economic Growth MMC Alderman James Vos. “On a previous trade mission to São Paulo, I met with the LATAM team about exactly this kind of connection, and now it’s becoming a reality. Moments like this show why we work so hard to open new routes. This direct service is a real game-changer for Cape Town, it creates a south-to-south travel and trade corridor that brings in more tourists, boosts commerce, strengthens cultural ties, and unlocks new opportunities for our people. It gives local businesses a foothold in global markets, supports jobs, and makes Cape Town even more competitive globally. And a big shout-out to the Air Access partnership for the behind-the-scenes work that makes wins like this possible. Get ready for the Dreamliner touching down in the Mother City!”

Wesgro reported that the number of two-way passengers between South America and Cape Town had grown by 8%, so far this year. Between January and August, the number of such travellers had come to 41 000. Two-way passenger volumes between South America and Cape Town were expected to return to 2019 (that is, pre-Covid) levels by the end of this year, or to just under 70 000 for the year.

“This connection is a major milestone for the Western Cape,” affirmed Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism Dr Ivan Meyer. “It will boost tourism, expand trade opportunities and attract investment, while strengthening the province’s position as a globally connected destination for both business and leisure.”