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Cape Town International Airport
Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town International Airport
South Africa's gateway to the Cape, Africa's most scenic city.
- ›Cape Town International is the second-busiest airport in South Africa after OR Tambo International in Johannesburg.
- ›The airport sits at an elevation of approximately 151 feet (46 metres) above sea level.
- ›It has one main runway (01/19) and a shorter parallel runway used primarily for general aviation.
- ›Major infrastructure upgrades were completed in 2010 in preparation for the FIFA World Cup hosted by South Africa.
- ›The airport is operated by Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), a state-owned entity managing nine major South African airports.
Cape Town International Airport, located approximately 20 kilometres east of the city centre, is South Africa's second-busiest airport and the primary gateway to the Western Cape. Originally opened in 1954 as D.F. Malan Airport, it was renamed in 2000 and has since undergone significant modernisation to handle growing international and domestic traffic. It serves as a major hub connecting Southern Africa to Europe, the Middle East, and beyond.
- Domestic Terminal — Handles all domestic South African routes with multiple piers and a range of check-in facilities.
- International Terminal — Processes all international arrivals and departures, featuring immigration, customs, and duty-free retail.
- MyCiTi Airport Bus (Route A01) to the city centre and Bloubergstrand
- Metered taxis from the official taxi rank outside arrivals
- Uber and Bolt ride-hailing services available at designated pickup zones
- Car rental desks from Avis, Hertz, Budget, Europcar, and Sixt in the arrivals hall
- Hotel and guesthouse shuttle services by prior arrangement
- The Westin Cape Town
- Airport Grand Hotel Cape Town
- Protea Hotel by Marriott Cape Town International Airport
- Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront
- Holiday Inn Express Cape Town City Centre
Inside the airport, travellers will find a solid mix of South African favourites and international chains including Mugg & Bean, Vida e Caffè, and Nando's across both terminals. The international departures area offers sit-down restaurants and bars with a good selection of local wines. For a broader culinary experience, the V&A Waterfront and Observatory suburb nearby are excellent dining destinations reachable within 20–30 minutes.
- Allow extra time during peak summer season (December–January) as queues at security and check-in can be lengthy.
- The MyCiTi A01 bus is the most affordable option to the city centre and runs frequently during daytime hours.
- South African rand is widely accepted everywhere; ATMs are available landside and airside.
- Cape Town's weather changes rapidly — pack a light layer even in summer as the southeaster wind can be strong near the airport.
AI-assisted overview, verified against public sources.
Route map (23 destinations)
Airlines serving this airport
Routes
Stay, Eat & Explore: Cape Town
Where two oceans meet
- •Table Mountain — Rotating cable car or a hike to the flat-topped icon.
- •Robben Island — Ferry to the prison where Mandela spent 18 years.
- •V&A Waterfront — Harbour dining, markets and the Zeitz MOCAA museum.
- •Boulders Beach Penguins — African penguins waddling on False Bay sand.
- •Cape of Good Hope — Cliffs, baboons and lighthouses at the peninsula's tip.
Getting around: MyCiTi buses serve the centre and coast; app-cabs are the practical default. Hire a car for the Peninsula and Winelands.
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Cape Town International Airport, and sometimes abbreviated to CTIA, is the primary international airport serving the city of Cape Town, South Africa. It is the second-busiest airport in the country and fourth-busiest in Africa.
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