ACSA reports record-breaking passenger growth during festive season

The Airports Company South Africa celebrates a festive season of record growth and looks to the future with optimism as it anticipates further expansion and enhancements across its network. The Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has concluded the 2025 festive season with remarkable success, achieving impressive growth in passenger volumesacross its network. December witnessed a staggering total of 4,013,823 passengers, effectively representing a 98% recovery to pre-pandemic levels and marking an 8% year-on-year increase in total traffic.

This strong rebound can largely be attributed to the restoration of key international routes, the introduction of new airline entrants, and an increase in flight frequencies, all vital components of the aviation sector’s ongoing recovery. ACSA’s network experienced its busiest day on December 12, 2025, processing a record 143,135 passengers alongside 1,352 air traffic movements. Major airports within the network, including O.R.

Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), Cape Town International Airport (CTIA), andKing Shaka International Airport (KSIA), all exceeded their traffic projections, showcasing a significant resilience and operational efficiency. The success during this peak travel period can also be credited to ACSA’s robust infrastructure and comprehensive resource planning, which effectively managed the surge in both passenger volumes and aircraft movements. Despite operational challenges such as weather disruptions, swift management techniques were employed to minimise passenger impact.

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While the operational flow of the network remained largely seamless, the On-Time Performance (OTP) averaged 77.5%, falling short of the target of 88.5%. This deviation was mainly influenced by severe inclement weather in Europe, which delayed incoming international flights. Conversely, domestic flights demonstrated greater resilience, achieving a 79% OTP, in contrast to 71% for international services.

Looking forward, ACSA is dedicated to recovering its position pre-pandemic while diversifying its revenue streams to address emerging risks in the aviation sector. With passenger traffic in South Africa expected to return to 2019 levels, the industry’s financial health and stability are on a commendable upswing, as affirmed by the recovery in profitability. The demand for travel has remained consistent, and ACSA holds an optimistic outlook.

The company anticipates continued growth in both passenger and cargo traffic for the upcoming financial year (FY 2026/27). This resilience is complemented by the anticipated expansion of international routes, the introduction of new airlines, and ACSA’s ongoing commitment to operational excellence, all aimed at achieving set goals for the year ahead. Significantly, two airports in the ACSA network achieved record-breaking passenger numbers for 2025.

Cape Town International Airport recorded an impressive 11,113,490 passengers, while George Airport welcomed 911,354 travellers, affirming the growing significance of these hubs in South Africa’s aviation landscape. As ACSA looks towards the future, it reaffirms its commitment to enhancing the passenger experience through proactive investments in infrastructure, digital innovations, and operational improvements. These steps are designed to accommodate anticipated traffic growth while ensuring that the standards expected by travellers are consistently met.

ACSA extends its sincere gratitude to employees, airline partners, ground handlers, fuel suppliers, and valued passengers for their unwavering support and cooperation during this bustling period. Collaborative efforts and shared successes are anticipated as the company navigates through 2026 and beyond.

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