Cape Town Airport Departures (CPT)

Flight Departures at Cape Town Airport

Cape Town International Airport is one of the major airports in South Africa, and is located just 20 km from the city center of Cape Town. Cape Town is famous for its position at the foot of Table Mountain, and is home to around three million inhabitants. The airport handles approximately 10 million or more passengers per year, and a million and a half of these passengers are international. Cape Town Airport is the second largest airport in South Africa, as well as the third largest airport on the African continent. Departing passengers at Cape Town Airport will find all the facilities they need within the terminal buildings, and a large variety of airline companies from which to choose.

Direct flights are offered from Cape Town International airport by a few airline companies to other major cities in South Africa, for example, Johannesburg and Durban, as well as to smaller cities, such as Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth and East London. Some of the airline carriers which offer these services include South African Airways, South African Express, Kulula.com, Mango and Velvet Sky. In the year 2007, the route between the major cities of Cape Town and Johannesburg was the busiest air route in Africa, and was also recorded as the fifth busiest in the world. The route between Cape Town and Durban was listed as the fifth busiest in Africa around the same time.

Various international destinations on the continents of Africa, Asia, Europe and South America are served directly from Cape Town Airport. British Airways and South African Airways travel to London-Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom, and Singapore Airlines offers flights to Singapore. African destinations include Walvis Bay, Windhoek-Hosea Kutako and Maputo, while destinations on other continents include Mauritius, Dubai, Amsterdam, Zurich and Munich.

Cape Town International Airport is easily accessed from the busy N2 Freeway. Motorists should turn-off the freeway at Exit 16, onto the Airport Approach Road, and follow the signs to the terminal buildings or car parking areas. Extensive parking lots are available at Cape Town Airport, including two undercover parkades that together provide more that 5,000 parking spaces. In addition, another two Shade Parking areas are located nearby the terminals, offering a further 1,600 spaces. There is a drop-off zone for the departure terminals, and a newly located ‘pick up and go’ area with thirty minutes of free parking. Reserved spaces are available in every parking area for disabled drivers. The buildings of Cape Town Airport are also fully accessible for disabled passengers, with ramps, lifts and adapted toilet facilities. However, should any passenger require further assistance with departure procedures, arrangements can be made with their airline company, at least 48 hours in advance of the scheduled time of departure.

Passengers should arrive in good time for their departure flight at Cape Town Airport, with an hour and a half to spare before a domestic flight, and at least two and half hours before an international flight. Other possible ways of reaching the airport, besides in your own or rented vehicle, include by the MyCiTi Bus, which is a new bus service providing transport between the airport and the Cape Town Civic Center. The bus is available in both directions approximately every twenty minutes. Conventional taxis are also available on call, or from the busy areas in the city where they have taxi ranks, while various other private companies offer their services, such as Noble Travel and Tours, Centurion Tours and City Hopper. There is no direct rail connection to Cape Town Airport. Passengers whom have rented a car should be aware that the route for vehicle returns has changed. Once reaching Ring Road from the Airport Approach Road, remain to the far right-hand side and continue into Central Boulevard. There is then a turn-off to the right which leads to the car rental facilities.

There are five terminal buildings at Cape Town International Airport, as well as the newly constructed Central Terminal, from where all check-in process are now handled. This terminal houses the airport’s 120 check-in desks, and both domestic and international passengers will begin their departure procedures from the Central Terminal. Once check-in is complete, passengers will separate to their relevant domestic or international departure terminals. The terminal buildings are all in one long line, and it is therefore relatively easy to find your way around. The terminals are also all within walking distance of each other.

Facilities at Cape Town Airport include the largest Spur restaurant on the African continent, measuring over 1,000 square meters. The restaurant is located on the landside of the airport, and is therefore accessible to all customers at the airport. Restaurants and other facilities on the airside of the airport include Dulce Café in the international terminal, and Mugg and Bean and the Wimpy in the domestic departures terminal. There are also numerous shopping outlets which offer a range of interesting African items for purchase. The banks of Nedbank, ABSA and Standard Bank are found in the domestic departures terminal, and ABSA has bank and bureau de change service in the international departures terminal. ATM's are available throughout the airport as well. Further facilities include the Airport Conference Center with four meeting rooms located in the Southern Office Block alongside the Domestic Terminal, shops offering mobile phone rentals, public telephones, a post office, pharmacy, medical aid assistance, porters and baby changing facilities.

Departing passengers from Cape Town Airport should ensure all their luggage is clearly marked, and should adhere to the new regulations limiting the quantity of liquids taken on board in hand luggage.