Arrivals soar in spite of drought

MORE than 2 million international passengers were recorded by Cape Town International Airport (CTIA), despite the drought, says the City.

The 2.6 million people represented a 9.6% growth from 2017. “This growth came from long-haul carriers from outside the southern African region and the uptick bodes well for the local economy,” said mayoral committee member for economic opportunities and asset management James Vos.

Overall passenger numbers grew from 10 693 063 in 2017 to 10 777 524 last year, equating to an increase of 84 000 additional passengers passing through the airport – a growth rate of 0.8%.

There was a slight decline of 1.4% in domestic passengers for the year.

In December 2018, international passenger numbers grew by 3.7%, while domestic passenger numbers declined by 0.8% year-on-year.

These numbers included all traffic via domestic and international terminals (arrivals and departures), and may include repeat travellers throughout the year. “The City of Cape Town is delighted at the growth in international passenger numbers for 2018. The busy peak season and tourism growth is encouraging in terms of sustainability, amid a tough time for tourism. More visitors mean increased benefits for the city and residents,” he said. |