Cape Town International Airport
Also known as: Cape Town Airport, CPT Airport, Cape Town International. Formerly D. F. Malan Airport.
Private transfer from CPTSee pricesSee pricesAbout Cape Town International Airport
Cape Town International Airport (CPT) is the main airport of Cape Town, in South Africa's Western Cape. It handled a record 11.1 million passengers in 2025, of whom 3.3 million were international.
Airlink, FlySafair, South African Airways, CemAir and LIFT fly to Johannesburg, Durban, George and other South African cities, and Airlink adds regional routes to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Long-haul airlines include Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa, British Airways, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, with seasonal flights from Air France, Condor, Edelweiss and Virgin Atlantic.
A single central terminal building links the domestic and international areas, with departures upstairs and arrivals downstairs. The airport is run by Airports Company South Africa and has a main runway of 3,201 m.
The airport lies about 20 km east of the city center, with a direct link along the N2 freeway. From here most travelers head to the City Bowl, the V&A Waterfront, the Atlantic Seaboard and Camps Bay, Stellenbosch and the Cape Winelands, or along the coast toward the Garden Route.
Airport operator, runways and traffic
- Operator
Airports Company South Africa (ACSA)
- Passengers per year
About 11.1 million in 2025
- Runways
Two runways, the main one 3,201 m long
- Location
About 20 km east of central Cape Town, on the N2
- Opened
1954
Arrival tips for Cape Town International Airport
If you arrive on an international flight, you go through passport control first. Citizens of many countries, including the US, the UK and Canada, can visit South Africa visa-free for up to 90 days; your passport must be valid for at least 30 days after you leave and have at least two blank pages.
After immigration, collect your bags in the baggage hall, where free trolleys are available, and pass through customs into the arrivals hall on the lower level of the terminal.
The metered taxi rank is directly outside arrivals. If you booked a private transfer, your driver usually waits in the arrivals hall with a name board. Uber and Bolt pick up from the signposted e-hailing area in the parkade, so follow the signs and the app. Turn down offers of rides from people approaching you in the terminal; airport signs warn arriving passengers about unofficial drivers.
Cape Town has warm, dry summers from December to February and cool, wet winters from June to August. South Africa uses South African Standard Time (UTC+2) all year, and the currency is the South African rand (ZAR).
Ground transportation
With the airport bus suspended, most travelers take a taxi, a rideshare or a pre-booked transfer into the city.
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Book a transfer from CPTTaxi from Cape Town airport
Metered taxis wait at the rank directly outside the arrivals hall. They reach the city center via the N2 in around 20 to 30 minutes in normal traffic, though weekday rush hour can add time.
Private transfer
A pre-booked driver meets you in the arrivals hall and takes you straight to your address, which helps with late arrivals or trips to the Winelands. You need to arrange it before you fly.
Rideshare
Uber and Bolt operate at the airport and pick up from the signposted e-hailing area in the parkade. Only get into the car that matches the plate and driver shown in the app.
MyCiTi airport bus
The MyCiTi airport service to the Civic Centre in the city has been suspended since 1 December 2022, and MyCiTi still lists it as temporarily suspended. There is no scheduled public bus from the terminal.
Car rental
Car rental desks are in the terminal, and Stellenbosch is about 35 km away, roughly a 20-minute drive. A car suits trips to the Winelands, the Cape Peninsula and the Garden Route.
Terminals
Main Terminal
A central terminal building holds all check-in desks and links the international area on the north side with the domestic area on the south side. Departures are on the upper level and arrivals on the lower level.
Airlines commonly assigned here: Air France, Air Mauritius, Airlink, British Airways, CemAir, Condor, Delta Air Lines, Edelweiss, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, FlySafair, Kenya Airways, KLM, LATAM Airlines, LIFT, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, South African Airways, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic
Airlines and destinations
Frequently asked questions
How far is Cape Town airport from the city center?
Cape Town International Airport is about 20 km east of the city center, with a direct link along the N2 freeway. In normal traffic the drive to the City Bowl usually takes 20 to 30 minutes, but weekday rush hour or incidents on the N2 can make it longer. The V&A Waterfront is a few minutes beyond the city center.
Is Cape Town International Airport in the city?
No. The airport sits on the Cape Flats about 20 km east of central Cape Town, beside the N2 freeway. The City Bowl, the V&A Waterfront and the Atlantic Seaboard are all reached by road from the airport, as there is no rail link and the airport bus service is currently suspended.
How many terminals does Cape Town airport have?
Cape Town International has one central terminal building that links a domestic area on the south side with an international area on the north side. All check-in desks are in the central building, departures are on the upper level and arrivals on the lower level, so you can walk between the domestic and international sides.
Which airlines fly to Cape Town International Airport?
Airlink, FlySafair, South African Airways, CemAir and LIFT fly domestic routes, mainly to Johannesburg and Durban. International airlines include Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa, British Airways, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and LATAM Airlines, with seasonal flights from Air France, Condor, Edelweiss and Virgin Atlantic.
Are there taxis at Cape Town airport?
Yes. Metered taxis wait at the official rank directly outside the arrivals hall. Use the rank rather than accepting offers from people inside the terminal, and agree on how the fare will be charged before you set off. Taxis take you anywhere in the city, including the City Bowl, the V&A Waterfront and Camps Bay.
Is the MyCiTi bus running from Cape Town airport?
No. The MyCiTi airport service, which ran between the airport and the Civic Centre in the city, was suspended on 1 December 2022, and MyCiTi still lists it as temporarily suspended. There is no other scheduled public bus from the terminal, so travelers use taxis, rideshare apps, rental cars or pre-booked transfers instead.
Can you use Uber or Bolt at Cape Town airport?
Yes. Uber and Bolt both pick up at Cape Town International from a signposted e-hailing area in the parkade opposite the terminal. Follow the e-hailing signs from arrivals and check the plate and driver details in the app before you get in, because unofficial drivers sometimes approach arriving passengers.
Do I need a visa or ETA to enter South Africa?
Many nationalities, including US, UK and Canadian citizens, can visit South Africa visa-free for up to 90 days. Your passport must be valid for at least 30 days after you leave and have at least two blank pages. South Africa's online Electronic Travel Authorisation is aimed at visa-required travelers and stays optional for visa-exempt visitors.
How do I get from Cape Town airport to Stellenbosch and the Winelands?
Stellenbosch is about 35 km from Cape Town International Airport, roughly a 20-minute drive. There is no direct public transport, so travelers use a taxi, a rideshare app, a rental car or a pre-booked transfer. Franschhoek and Paarl, the other main Winelands towns, are also reached by road from the airport.
How do I get from Cape Town airport to the V&A Waterfront?
The V&A Waterfront is on the far side of the city center, about 20 km from the airport by road along the N2. Taxis, Uber, Bolt and pre-booked transfers all go there directly. With the MyCiTi airport bus suspended, there is no scheduled public transport link from the terminal to the Waterfront.
What is the time zone and currency in Cape Town?
Cape Town uses South African Standard Time, UTC+2, all year, with no daylight saving time. The currency is the South African rand (ZAR). The city has warm, dry summers from December to February and cool, wet and windy winters from June to August, so pack a layer for evenings in any season.
Who operates Cape Town International Airport and how busy is it?
Cape Town International is run by Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), which also operates O. R. Tambo in Johannesburg and King Shaka in Durban. It handled a record 11.1 million passengers in 2025, about 7.8 million domestic and 3.3 million international, and it opened in 1954.