Dear Editor
International passenger arrivals to the Western Cape showed a 73% recovery in June when compared to the same month in 2019, showing how the province’s tourism industry is overcoming the impact of the pandemic.
This was revealed on Friday when the Standing Committee on Finance, Economic Opportunities and Tourism conducted an oversight visit to Cape Town International Airport. We were briefed by the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) and Cape Town Air Access (CTAA) on the status of the Western Cape commercial aviation industry.
The recovery would surely have been even stronger had it not been for renewed waves of Covid-19 which forced the resumption of restrictions in numerous foreign countries. There have also been several returning and new routes that have been agreed to by international carriers that will help the province to not only recover, but exceed previous levels of international visitors.
These include:
- Air Belgium (new service starting 14 September): Brussels, two flights per week, subject to government approval.
- Delta Air Lines (new service from October): the triangular route between Atlanta-Johannesburg-Cape Town has been approved, planning to operate daily flight. Delta have also applied for three flights a week from 18 November, Atlanta-Cape Town direct.
- Air Mauritius (returning 16 November): Port Louis, Mauritius, two flights per week.
- Virgin Atlantic (returning end of October): London Heathrow, daily flights.
- Condor (returning in October): Frankfurt, three flights per week.
- Edelweiss (returning for the seasonal service in October): Zurich, three flights per week.
- Air France (returning end of year): Paris, three flights per week.
MPP Gillion Bosman says: “The DA welcomes the recovery of international travel to the Western Cape. We are especially excited by the new and returning international routes to the Cape Town International Airport that have been secured. Before the pandemic, the Airport contributed, both directly and indirectly, to 28 000 jobs in the Western Cape.
This is why the tourism recovery is of the highest importance. We need a strong aviation industry in this province so that we can reach, and surpass, the number of jobs supported by this industry before the pandemic.”
Regards
Gillion Bosman, MPP
DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Finance, Economic Opportunities and Tourism
