Cape Town International Airport: Q1 2026 Airline Capacity Analysis

Introduction

Cape Town International Airport, the second busiest airport in South Africa and the wider Southern African region, recorded a total of 3,653,023 airline seats in the first quarter of 2026. This translates to an average of approximately 40,622 daily seats, reinforcing its role as a key node in the country’s aviation network.

January emerged as the strongest month, with 1,256,153 seats, followed closely by March (1,242,215 seats) and February (1,157,655 seats). Capacity levels remained relatively stable throughout the quarter, indicating resilience in the face of global geopolitical uncertainties, including tensions in the Middle East such as the Israel–US–Iran conflict.

On a daily basis, 4 January 2026 recorded the highest seat capacity at 45,191 seats, closely followed by early February peaks—reflecting robust seasonal and early-year travel demand. In contrast, 24 January registered the lowest daily volume at 33,426 seats, illustrating normal operational variability rather than systemic disruption.