Where in the world have you flown?
How long have you been in the air?
Create your own FlightMemory and see!

Airport Cape Town (South Africa) - International

Cape Town International Airport
Cape Town International's new central terminal building and public-transit plaza
IATA: CPT ICAO: FACT
WMO: 68816
Summary
Airport type Public
Operator Airports Company South Africa
Serves Cape Town
Location Cape Town, South Africa
Elevation AMSL 46 m / 151 ft
Coordinates 33°5810S 018°3550E / 33.96944°S 18.59722°E / -33.96944; 18.59722Coordinates: 33°5810S 018°3550E / 33.96944°S 18.59722°E / -33.96944; 18.59722
Website www.acsa.co.za
Map
CPT
Location within the Cape Town metropolitan area
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
01/19 3,201 10,502 Asphalt
16/34 1,701 5,581 Asphalt
Statistics (2010)
Passengers 8,107,648
Aircraft movements 93,623
Airport capacity 14.5 million p.a.
Source: Passenger Statistics,[1] Aircraft Movements[2]

Cape Town International Airport (IATA: CPT, ICAO: FACT) is the primary airport serving the city of Cape Town, and is the second busiest airport in South Africa and fourth busiest in Africa. Located approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the city centre, the airport was opened in 1954 to replace Cape Town's previous airport in the suburb of Wingfield. Cape Town International Airport is the only airport in the Cape Town metropolitan area that offers scheduled passenger services.

The airport has direct flights from South Africa's other two main urban areas, Johannesburg and Durban, as well as flights to smaller centres in South Africa. Internationally, it has direct flights to several destinations in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. The air route between Cape Town and Johannesburg was the world's fifth busiest air route in 2007 as well as the busiest in Africa, with the air route between Cape Town and Durban being the fifth busiest in Africa.[3]

In 2009, Cape Town International Airport received the Skytrax award for the best airport in Africa.[4] The airport has domestic and international terminals, linked by a common central terminal.

Contents

History

Cape Town International Airport was opened in 1954, a year after Jan Smuts Airport (now OR Tambo International Airport) on the Witwatersrand opened. The airport replaced Cape Town's previous airport, located at Wingfield. Originally called D.F. Malan Airport after the then South African prime minister, it initially offered two international flights: a direct flight to Britain and a second flight to Britain via Johannesburg.[5]

With the fall of apartheid in the early 1990s, ownership of the airport was transferred from the state to the newly-formed Airports Company South Africa,[6] and the airport was renamed to the politically-neutral Cape Town International Airport.[7] The first years of the twenty-first century saw tremendous growth at the airport; from handling 6.2 million passengers per annum in 2004-05, the airport peaked at 8.4 million passengers per annum in 2007-08 before falling back to 7.8 million in 2008-09.[1]

In preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Cape Town International Airport was extensively expanded and renovated. The main focus was the development of a Central Terminal Building at a cost of R1.6 billion,[8] which linked the formerly separate domestic and international terminals and provided a common check-in area.[9] The departures level of the Central Terminal opened in November 2009, with the entire building opened in April 2010.[8]

Future development

Apart from completion of the 2010 expansion project, it has been proposed that a second runway for large aircraft be constructed at Cape Town International Airport. An expected date for construction of the second runway has yet to be determined.[10]

Terminal information

The terminal building has a split-level design, with departures located in the upper floors and arrivals in the lower floors; an elevated roadway system provides vehicular access to both departures and arrivals levels.[9] All check-in takes place within the Central Terminal Building, which contains 120 check-in desks and 20 self-service kiosks.[9] Passengers then pass through a consolidated security screening area before dividing, with international passengers heading north towards the international terminal (which contains immigration facilities), and domestic passengers heading south towards the domestic terminal.

The terminal contains 10 air bridges, evenly split between domestic and international usage. Sections of lower levels of the domestic and international terminals are used for transporting passengers via bus to and from remotely-parked aircraft.[9]

Arriving passengers collect luggage in the old sections of their respective terminals, before proceeding through new passageways to the new Central Terminal Building.[8] The terminal contains an automated baggage handling system, capable of handling 30,000 bags per hour.[9]

Retail outlets are located on the lower (arrivals) level of the terminal at landside, as well as airside at the departure gates. Retail outlets are diverse, including foreign exchange services, bookstores, clothing retailers, grocery stores, souvenir outlets and duty-free in international departures. Restaurants within the terminal building are located on the upper (3rd) level above the departures level, which includes what is purported to be the largest Spur restaurant on the African continent, at 1,080 m2 (11,600 sq ft).[9] The restaurant level overlooks the airside of the terminal, where a glass curtain wall separates the patrons from the planes 3 storeys below.

In 2009, Cape Town International Airport was the recipient of the Skytrax "Best Airport in Africa" award, coming ahead of Durban International Airport and OR Tambo International Airport.[4]

Airlines and destinations

The following airlines operate scheduled flights to Cape Town International Airport:

Airlines Destinations Type
1Time Durban, East London, Johannesburg-Lanseria [begins 5 March 2012], Johannesburg-OR Tambo, Port Elizabeth Domestic
Air France Paris-Charles de Gaulle International
Air Mauritius Mauritius International
Air Namibia Walvis Bay, Windhoek-Hosea Kutako International
Airlink George, Kimberley, Nelspruit-Kruger Mpumalanga, Upington Domestic
British Airways London-Heathrow International
British Airways operated by Comair Durban, Johannesburg-OR Tambo, Port Elizabeth Domestic
Edelweiss Air Seasonal: Zürich International
Emirates Dubai International
KLM Amsterdam International
Kulula.com Durban, Johannesburg-Lanseria, Johannesburg-OR Tambo Domestic
Lufthansa Frankfurt International
Mango Bloemfontein, Durban, Johannesburg-Lanseria, Johannesburg-OR Tambo Domestic
Qatar Airways Doha International
Singapore Airlines Singapore International
South African Airways Durban, Johannesburg-OR Tambo Domestic
South African Airways London-Heathrow International
South African Express Bloemfontein, Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, Kimberley Domestic
South African Express Maputo, Walvis Bay, Windhoek-Hosea Kutako International
TAAG Angola Airlines Luanda International
Turkish Airlines Istanbul-Atatürk International
Velvet Sky Durban, Johannesburg-OR Tambo, Port Elizabeth Domestic
Virgin Atlantic Airways Seasonal: London-Heathrow International

Other facilities

The only hotel located within the airport precinct is the budget Road Lodge, owned by the City Lodge hotel chain group. An ExecuJet facility is located near the southern end of the main runway, and caters for business jets.

Traffic and statistics

Cape Town International Airport recorded 7.8 million passengers in 2008-2009, down from 8.4 million passengers the year before. Of those passengers, 1.4 million were international and 6.3 million domestic, with the remainder being classified as "regional" or "unscheduled". 95,643 aircraft traffic movements were recorded; the majority being domestic services. The statistics firmly entrench Cape Town International Airport as being the second busiest airport in South Africa, behind OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and ahead of King Shaka International Airport in Durban.[11]

Annual passenger traffic for Cape Town International Airport[1]
Year International Regional Domestic Unscheduled Total
Passenger movements  % Change Passenger movements  % Change Passenger movements  % Change Passenger movements  % Change Passenger movements  % Change
2004-05 1,176,958 no data 126,837 no data 4,895,048 no data 16,060 no data 6,214,903 no data
2005-06 1,167,661 0.8% 149,489 17.9% 5,503,690 12.4% 13,333 17.0% 6,834,173 10.0%
2006-07 1,246,016 6.7% 147,885 1.1% 6,107,405 11.0% 17,237 29.3% 7,518,543 10.0%
2007-08 1,309,822 5.1% 145,858 1.4% 6,950,061 13.8% 20,877 21.1% 8,426,618 12.1%
2008-09 1,378,160 5.2% 138,000 5.4% 6,283,132 9.6% 13,878 33.5% 7,813,170 7.3%
2009-10 1,284,990 6.8% 122,584 11.2% 6,391,079 1.7% 11,416 17.7% 7,810,069 0.0%
2010-11 1,261,024 1.9% 122,609 0.0% 6,781,143 6.1% 35,771 213.3% 8,200,547 5.0%
Annual aircraft movements for Cape Town International Airport[2]
Year International Regional Domestic Unscheduled Total
Aircraft movements  % Change Aircraft movements  % Change Aircraft movements  % Change Aircraft movements  % Change Aircraft movements  % Change
2004-05 4,355 no data 4,242 no data 56,810 no data 27,154 no data 92,561 no data
2005-06 4,296 1.4% 4,169 1.7% 58,099 2.3% 22,326 17.8% 88,890 4.0%
2006-07 4,623 7.6% 3,698 11.3% 60,470 4.1% 22,602 1.2% 91,393 2.8%
2007-08 5,019 8.6% 3,420 7.5% 69,819 15.5% 24,027 6.3% 102,285 11.9%
2008-09 5,638 12.3% 3,340 2.3% 65,623 6.0% 21,042 12.4% 95,643 6.5%
2009-10 4,884 13.4% 3,296 1.3% 65,020 0.9% 19,379 7.9% 92,579 3.2%
2010-11 4,868 0.3% 3,137 4.8% 66,587 2.4% 19,031 1.8% 93,623 1.1%

Access

Car

Cape Town International Airport is approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the city centre and is accessible from the N2 freeway, with Airport Approach Road providing a direct link between the N2 (at exit 16) and the airport. The airport can also be indirectly accessed from the R300 freeway via the M12, M10 and M22.

The airport provides approximately 1,424 parking bays in the general parking area, and 1,748 parking bays in the multi-storey parkade located near the domestic terminal.[12] A new parkade, which is located near the international terminal, and provides an additional 4,000 bays, was opened in 2010.[13] The airport also offers a valet parking service.[12]

Public transport

The MyCiTi bus rapid transit system provides a shuttle service connecting the airport with the Civic Centre bus station in the city centre. Buses depart every 20 minutes from 04:20 to 22:00.[14] Transport to and from the airport is also provided by metered taxis and various private shuttle companies.[7]

Rail link

There is no direct rail access to Cape Town International Airport. The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa has proposed a 4 km (2.5 mi) rail link between the airport and Cape Town's existing suburban rail network; construction is expected to start in 2013.[citation needed]

Accidents and incidents

  • On 26 May 1971, three South African Air Force Hawker-Siddeley HS125 aircraft, practising for a fly past for an upcoming air show at the airport, crashed into Devil's Peak just west of the airfield. The aircraft were destroyed and all 11 crew were killed.[15][16]
  • On 5 June 1983 a Cessna 402B, tail number ZS-KVG, crashed shortly after take-off in inclement weather. Seven out of the nine on board were killed. It transpired that the pilot did not have an instrument rating and had falsified his logbook in order to hire the aircraft.[15][17][18]
  • On 7 November 2007, a Boeing 737-230, ZS-OEZ, operated by Nationwide Airlines suffered complete separation of the right (starboard) engine at take-off. The take-off was continued and the crew successfully landed the aircraft without injury or loss of life. The aircraft had 106 passengers on board.[19]

Aeronautical information

The following is an example of information required by aircrew to operate at this airport. Such information is usually found on approach plates and is also disseminated by means of NOTAMs (NOtices To AirMen) and other publications. All information is sourced from the South African Civil Aviation Authority.[20]

Navigational Aids
Type Identification Frequency
NDB CB 462.5
VOR/DME CTV 115.7
ILS LOC RWY 01 CTI 110.3
ILS LOC RWY 19 KNI 109.1
Communication
  • Communication Frequencies
    • Cape Town Apron 122.65 MHz
    • Clearance Delivery 122.10 MHz
    • Surface Movement Control 121.90 MHz
    • Cape Town Tower 118.10 MHz
    • Cape Town Approach 120.050 MHz
    • Automatic Terminal Information Service - 127.00 MHz
Notes
  1. Magnetic variation 25W
  2. Do not confuse THR 16 for THR 19 when taxiing on TWY A1 for take-off on RWY 19.
  3. Avoid overflying Tygerberg Hospital - 3NM North of AD, when taking-off from RWY 01 & 34.
  4. Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STARs) are published for this airport.

See also

South Africa portal
Aviation portal


References

  1. ^ a b c "ACSA - Cape Town Passenger Statistics". Airports Company South Africa. http://www.acsa.co.za/home.asp?pid=137. Retrieved December 28, 2009. 
  2. ^ a b "ACSA - Cape Town Aircraft Statistics". Airports Company South Africa. http://www.acsa.co.za/home.asp?pid=139. Retrieved December 28, 2009. 
  3. ^ "OAG reveals latest industry intelligence on the busiest routes". OAG. http://www.oag.com/oag/website/com/en/PopUps/Print/Press+Releases/OAG+reveals+latest+industry+intelligence+on+the+busiest+routes+2109072. Retrieved December 26, 2009. 
  4. ^ a b "World Airport Awards 2009 - Regional Results". Skytrax. http://www.worldairportawards.com/Awards_2009/ResultsFull.htm. Retrieved December 28, 2009. 
  5. ^ Bickford-Smith, Vivian; E. Van Heyningen, Nigel Worden (1999). Cape Town in the twentieth century: an illustrated social history. Cape Town: New Africa Books. p. 120. ISBN 9780864863843. http://books.google.co.za/books?id=SkxmcdhpPbMC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_navlinks_s#v=onepage&q=&f=false. Retrieved December 28, 2009. 
  6. ^ "ACSA - History". Airports Company South Africa. http://www.acsa.co.za/home.asp?pid=67. Retrieved December 28, 2009. 
  7. ^ a b "Cape Town Airport (CPT) Information - Airports Guide to Cape Town". airports-guides.com. http://cape-town-cpt.airports-guides.com/. Retrieved December 28, 2009. 
  8. ^ a b c Nicholson, Zara (November 8, 2009). "New terminal hailed as a success". Sunday Argus (IOL). http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20091108075550577C968736. Retrieved December 28, 2009. 
  9. ^ a b c d e f "ACSA - New Developments". Airports Company South Africa. http://www.acsa.co.za/home.asp?pid=3785. Retrieved December 28, 2009. 
  10. ^ "Cape Town airport may get second runway". IOL. January 25, 2002. http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?sf=124&set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=ct20020125101000823B510966. Retrieved December 28, 2009. 
  11. ^ "ACSA - Statistics". Airports Company South Africa. http://www.acsa.co.za/home.asp?pid=100. Retrieved December 28, 2009. 
  12. ^ a b "ACSA - Cape Town - Maps and parking". Airports Company South Africa. http://www.acsa.co.za/home.asp?pid=3637. Retrieved December 28, 2009. 
  13. ^ "More parking comes online at Cape Town International Airport". Airports Company South Africa. December 10, 2009. http://www.acsa.co.za/home.asp?pid=94&toolid=2&itemid=6386. Retrieved December 28, 2009. 
  14. ^ "Last Free Friday for MyCiti inner city loopfor a while". City of Cape Town. http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/Pages/LastFreeFridayforMyCitiinnercityloopforawhile.aspx. Retrieved July 17, 2010. 
  15. ^ a b Byrom, James (1993). Fields of Air. Ashanti Publishing. ISBN 01919874127. 
  16. ^ "Accident Details - May 26, 1971". planecrashinfo.com. http://planecrashinfo.com/1971/1971.htm. Retrieved December 28, 2009. 
  17. ^ "Accident Details - June 5, 1983". planecrashinfo.com. http://planecrashinfo.com/1983/1983-24.htm. Retrieved December 28, 2009. 
  18. ^ "ASN Aircraft accident 05-JUN-1983 Cessna 402 ZS-KVG". Aviation Safety Network. http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=19533. Retrieved December 28, 2009. 
  19. ^ "ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 737-230 ZS-OEZ Cape Town International Airport (CPT)". Aviation Safety Network. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20071107-0. Retrieved December 28, 2009. 
  20. ^ "CAA Website". South African Civil Aviation Authority. http://www.caa.co.za/. Retrieved December 26, 2009. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Cape Town International Airport
10 Biggest African Airports
This article based on this article: Cape_Town_International_Airportexternal Link from the free encyclopedia Wikipediaexternal Link and work with the GNU Free Documentation License. In Wikipedia is this list of the authorsexternal Link.