The Western Cape government has highlighted the urgent need to expand Cape Town International Airport, following a surge in tourism that saw more than 160,000 international visitors arrive in December—marking a twelve-year high.
Although the international terminal is managed by Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), which is 74.6% government-owned, Western Cape Premier Alan Winde stressed the province’s role in ensuring the airport can accommodate even more visitors in the coming years.
During his State of the Province Address on Wednesday, Winde said:
“We are at capacity, and now we need infrastructure investment to enlarge it. This is largely due to the Cape Air Access Initiative, which has paid off significantly. Seven new airlines, via seven new routes, are landing in the Western Cape, delivering one million inbound seats.”
With continued growth in both international and domestic travel on the horizon, Winde emphasized that improving airport infrastructure will be critical for sustaining the Western Cape’s thriving tourism industry.
