South Africa’s aviation sector is on the brink of a full recovery, with international passenger traffic across the country’s main gateways reaching 98% of pre-pandemic levels. However, the surge is far from uniform.
Driven by the return of global carriers and expanded seat capacity, Cape Town International Airport has emerged as the standout performer, with international traffic soaring 36.5% past 2019 benchmarks.
While strategic new partnerships - like Airlink’s codeshare with Qatar Airways - and rising tourist arrivals signal strong momentum, geopolitical disruptions and missing direct routes in key global markets mean the next phase is no longer just about rebuilding lost connections, but securing long-term air access for the country.
Cape Town leads South Africa’s international airport recovery
According to Ofentse Dijoe, ACSA Group Spokesperson, Cape Town International’s international passenger traffic is currently 36.5% above 2019 levels.
The airport’s strong performance has been supported by the return of airlines and additional capacity.
ACSA says 88% of the airlines operating at Cape Town before Covid-19 have resumed services, while eight new airlines have entered the market since 2019.
On a year-to-date basis, the city's international passenger traffic was also 8.9% higher than the same period in 2025. OR Tambo International Airport recorded growth of 3.6%.
The recovery comes against a broader improvement in South Africa’s international tourism numbers.
International tourist arrivals continue to climb
Between January and July 2026, South Africa welcomed 6,576,169 international tourists, representing a 12.4% increase compared with the same period in 2025.
July alone recorded 991,696 international tourists, up 12.5% year on year. Arrivals from the rest of Africa increased by 14.3% during the first seven months of the year, while overseas arrivals grew by 5.7%, according to South African Tourism.
The figures point to a tourism recovery that is gathering momentum, although the stronger growth from African markets highlights an important distinction between regional and long-haul recovery.
While rising arrivals and passenger numbers are occurring alongside improved connectivity, the data does not by itself prove that better air access is responsible for the increase.
For Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille, however, air access remains fundamental to the country’s tourism growth ambitions.
In her May Budget Vote speech, de Lille identified “ease of access” as the first pillar of the Tourism Growth Partnership Plan, with government prioritising visa reform and improved air access.
“Because if tourists cannot get here easily, they will simply go elsewhere,” she said.
International seat capacity is expanding
ACSA’s latest figures indicate that additional international capacity is already entering the market.
International seat capacity increased by 7.5% year to date in 2026 compared with the same period last year.
ACSA attributes the increase primarily to new international carriers and expanded connectivity across key markets.
Among the notable additions are Air Europa’s Madrid-Johannesburg service, Air Congo’s new connections between Johannesburg and Lubumbashi and Kinshasa, and LATAM Airlines’ strengthened connectivity between Brazil and Cape Town.
For travellers, the significance goes beyond individual routes. More capacity and more airlines can increase the number of destinations accessible from South Africa while also giving international visitors additional options for reaching the country.
Geopolitical tensions continue to affect air connectivity
But ACSA cautions that the recovery is taking place against a volatile global aviation environment.
Dijoe said passenger performance at OR Tambo, Cape Town and King Shaka International airports had been affected by the impact of geopolitical tensions involving Iran, Israel and the United States, which continued to influence global markets and travel patterns.
Middle Eastern carriers also prioritised South African routes, particularly Johannesburg and Cape Town, during the disruption.
ACSA currently puts schedule recovery at 88%, although it says this is improving as passenger confidence strengthens.
The disruption also created opportunities for Asian carriers to capture some of the capacity previously operated by Middle Eastern airlines.
According to ACSA, improved connectivity is now evident across the Asia-Pacific, European and Latin American and Caribbean markets.
Airlink and Qatar expand South Africa’s global reach
One of the most significant developments is the expanded codeshare partnership between Airlink and Qatar Airways, which took effect on August 31.
Under the agreement, Airlink began marketing Doha as its first long-haul destination, placing its code on Qatar Airways-operated flights from Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.
The agreement includes twice-daily Johannesburg-Doha services, 10 weekly Cape Town-Doha services and daily Durban-Doha flights, with the Durban service operating via Maputo.
“This codeshare is an important initial element in Airlink’s expanded network and market-reach strategy,” said Airlink CEO de Villiers Engelbrecht.
He said the agreement, by leveraging Qatar Airways’ global presence, “opens unparalleled connectivity opportunities for its customers”.
The partnership gives Airlink access to Qatar Airways’ wider international network through Doha, while providing travellers from South Africa with additional onward connections.
Connectivity gaps remain in key markets
However, more work remains if South Africa is to translate the recovery into sustained growth in overseas tourism.
ACSA says there are opportunities to strengthen connectivity within Africa, particularly in underserved markets where demand exists but direct links remain limited. It also identifies connectivity gaps in North America and parts of the Asia-Pacific region.
Closing these gaps through new market entrants, additional frequencies and the restoration or expansion of previously operated routes will be important, ACSA says.
The picture emerging from the latest aviation and tourism data is therefore one of recovery, but not yet complete recovery.
South Africa’s airports are handling passenger volumes close to pre-pandemic levels, Cape Town has surpassed its 2019 international traffic, and international seat capacity is continuing to expand.
At the same time, geopolitical disruption, uneven market recovery and gaps in direct connectivity remain challenges.
For South Africa, the next phase will be less about simply restoring the connectivity lost during the pandemic and more about building a broader, more resilient international network capable of supporting the country’s ambitions for tourism growth.
The question is no longer simply whether international travellers are returning. It is whether South Africa can continue making it easier for them to get here and, crucially, whether the country can connect directly and efficiently with the markets it still struggles to reach.
zamandosi.cele@nationalmg.co.za