Welcome back to Cape Town, Emirates Airlines!

STATEMENT BY THE MAYORAL COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND ASSET MANAGEMENT, ALDERMAN JAMES VOS

Today the airline’s first flight in several months flies in from Dubai. While international passenger volumes at Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) are at about 9 000 passengers per day, down from 15 000 prior to the third wave, Cape Town International Airport has seen a steady increase since the country returned to an adjusted Alert Level 3 lockdown. With more international airlines such as Emirates coming back on board, we are sure to see that number increase significantly.

These renewed flights signal our important connection with Dubai and will be a further boost in stimulating travel and trade between our regions. Our two great cities have forged a strong relationship, one which was made official in 2019, when I was fortunate enough to be present in Dubai for the signing of a sister-city agreement.

These flights are also yet another indication that Cape Town is opening up to existing source markets. And with the Air Access team, who receive funding from the City, working hard to bring more airlines here, I’m confident that we will soon be welcoming flights from new regions too.

So let’s make sure we all play our part in helping our Mothercity to open safely and fully to all visitors from near and far in the coming months.