South Africa’s aviation sector began 2026 on a steady footing, with airport arrivals rising 7.9% year-on-year in January, according to figures released by Airports Company South Africa (ACSA). The increase slightly exceeded the overall 7.8% growth recorded for 2025, indicating continued momentum in passenger demand.
While overall growth moderated marginally from December’s 8.1% expansion, the January data underline a sustained recovery trend that has been underway since travel restrictions were lifted in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Domestic travel once again proved to be the primary driver of passenger volumes. Accounting for roughly two-thirds of total arrivals, the domestic segment expanded by 8.1% compared with January last year, improving on December’s 7.7% rise. Given its dominant share, shifts in domestic travel patterns have an outsized impact on aggregate performance.
International arrivals, which represented 30.9% of total passenger inflows in January, grew at a slightly slower pace of 7.3%, down from 8.6% the previous month. Together, domestic and international segments comprised 97.5% of all arrivals, effectively determining the overall trajectory of airport traffic.
Regional travel within Africa posted a 9.9% increase year-on-year, easing from a sharp 16.5% jump in December. Unscheduled flights, which include charter operations and other non-regular services, rebounded modestly with 4.7% growth after contracting by 13.5% in the prior month.
Looking at the broader picture, total arrivals at ACSA-operated airports reached 20.159 million in 2025, marking a 7.8% annual increase. Despite the steady rebound, passenger numbers remain below pre-pandemic levels, standing at 94.1% of the 2019 total.
Before the global health crisis severely disrupted aviation in 2020, South Africa’s airports were experiencing consistent expansion, supported by tourism, business travel and regional connectivity. The collapse in international mobility during the pandemic years resulted in sharp declines, from which the industry has been gradually rebuilding.
In 2025, domestic arrivals rose by 7.7% but were still only 93.2% of their 2019 level, suggesting room for further growth. International arrivals increased by 8.1% and reached 96.0% of pre-pandemic volumes. Regional arrivals climbed 8.9%, achieving 96.7% of 2019 figures, while unscheduled services declined by 3.5% over the year and remained at 93.4% of their pre-crisis benchmark.
Industry observers note that capacity additions and route development strategies may shape the next phase of recovery. Cape Town International Airport has actively pursued new airline partnerships and route expansions, a move that could push international passenger volumes beyond their 2019 peak during 2026 if demand trends hold.
The January data suggest that South Africa’s aviation recovery is entering a more mature phase, characterised by steady — rather than rapid — growth. While full restoration to pre-pandemic levels has not yet been achieved across all segments, the gap continues to narrow.
