Cape Town International Airport
Daylight today(Aug 29, 2026, local time)
About 11h 17m of daylight. Civil twilight (dawn/dusk) approximates the FAA definition of night for logging and currency. Times are computed and approximate — verify with official sources.
About Cape Town International Airport
Cape Town International Airport (IATA: CPT, ICAO: FACT), and sometimes abbreviated to CTIA, is the primary international airport serving the city of Cape Town, South Africa. It is the second-busiest airport in the country and fourth-busiest in Africa. Located approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the Cape Town CBD (the city's main economic hub), the airport was opened in 1954 to replace Cape Town's previous airport, Wingfield Aerodrome. Cape Town International Airport is the only airport in the Cape Town metropolitan area that offers scheduled passenger services. The airport has domestic and international terminals, linked by a common central terminal. 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, and locations in the Middle East, Asia, Europe, South America, Australia, and the United States. The air route between Cape Town and Johannesburg was the world's ninth-busiest air route in 2011 with an estimated 4.5 million passengers. According to Airports Company South Africa, CTIA achieved an on-time performance (OTP) of 90.42% in 2025; above its target. In 2025, Cape Town International was ranked as the Best Airport in the World in the AirHelp Score list, moving up one spot from the previous year. Based on visitor opinions, the airport performed particularly well in the categories of on-time performance and customer experience.
Summary from Wikipedia, photo via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA.
Live weather
FACTNOTAMs
FACTReference only — not an official briefing. Always obtain a certified briefing (e.g. 1800wxbrief.com / your AIS) before flight.
NOTAM data via the FAA NOTAM system.
Live departures & arrivals
Flight data by AeroDataBox. Times are estimates — not for navigation; confirm with the airline.
Where you can fly from here
Current scheduled routes & daily frequency by AeroDataBox. Approximate — confirm bookable schedules with the airline.
Live traffic nearby
Aircraft currently within ~40 nm, from live ADS-B. Positions are approximately real-time — not for navigation.
Live ADS-B by adsb.lol & the OpenSky Network. Not for navigation.
Map
Runway centrelines, navaids and overlapping airspace. Tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Reference only — not for navigation.
Runways (2)
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighting | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 / 19 | 10,502 ft / 3,201 m | 200 ft | Asp | Lighted | Open |
| 16 / 34 | 5,581 ft / 1,701 m | 151 ft | Asp | Lighted | Open |
Radio frequencies (8)
| Type | Description | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| AC | Apron Control | 122.650 MHz |
| APP | Approach | 119.700 MHz |
| APP | Director | 124.500 MHz |
| ATIS | Long Range ATIS | 127.600 MHz |
| ATIS | ATIS | 127.000 MHz |
| DEL | Delivery | 122.100 MHz |
| GND | Ground | 121.900 MHz |
| TWR | Tower | 118.100 MHz |
Services & operations
Cape Town International Airport is Africa’s 3rd largest airport.
From the airport’s official website — details may change, so confirm with the airport. Official site
Navaids(2)
Airlines & destinations
Route data from OpenFlights — historical and may be out of date. Check current schedules.
Airspace in this area(8)
| Name | Class | Type | Floor | Ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CTA FACT A | Class A | Controlled | FL145 | FL195 |
| AWY A405 | Class A | Airway | FL145 | FL245 |
| AWY A402 | Class A | Airway | FL145 | FL245 |
| TMA FACT A | Class C | Controlled | 2500 ft MSL | FL085 |
| TMA FACT E | Class C | Controlled | FL085 | FL145 |
| TMA FACT B | Class C | Controlled | 4500 ft MSL | FL085 |
| CTR FACT | Class D | CTR | GND | 2500 ft MSL |
| CAPE TOWN WEST | Class G | FIR | 1500 ft GND | FL195 |
Approximate bounding-box match from OpenAIP · all South Africa airspace. Reference only — consult official charts for exact boundaries and status.
Weather by month
Share of VFR / marginal-VFR / IFR / low-IFR conditions by month over the last 8 years, with the prevailing wind and typical density altitude. Historical climatology — not a forecast.
Prevailing wind: S (from about 180°), on 23% of observations, averaging 13 kt.
| Month | VFR / MVFR / IFR / LIFR | % VFR | Median DA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 86% | 875 ft | |
| Feb | 82% | 867 ft | |
| Mar | 80% | 637 ft | |
| Apr | 71% | 244 ft | |
| May | 64% | -31 ft | |
| Jun | 63% | -216 ft | |
| Jul | 65% | -380 ft | |
| Aug | 69% | -298 ft | |
| Sep | 75% | -105 ft | |
| Oct | 85% | 281 ft | |
| Nov | 86% | 518 ft | |
| Dec | 89% | 763 ft |
VFR MVFR IFR LIFR· density altitude ranges ~-380–875 ft through the year· Source: NWS/IEM ASOS archive.
Tall obstacles nearby
| Obstacle | Height AGL | Top (MSL) | Lit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Thibault Square | 453 ft | 98 ft | — |
| ABSA Centre Cape Town | 390 ft | 151 ft | — |
| Atterbury House | 390 ft | 141 ft | — |
| Triangle House | 341 ft | 92 ft | — |
| Cape Town Civic Centre Tower Block | 322 ft | 135 ft | — |
Tallest obstacles within ~10 nm. Data via OpenAIP. Reference only — consult official charts.
Nearby airports
Great-circle distance and true bearing from Cape Town International Airport.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ICAO code for Cape Town International Airport?
The ICAO code for Cape Town International Airport is FACT, and its IATA code is CPT.
Where is Cape Town International Airport located?
Cape Town International Airport is large airport located in Cape Town, South Africa, at an elevation of 151 ft (46 m).
How many runways does Cape Town International Airport have?
Cape Town International Airport has 2 runways, the longest being 10,502 ft / 3,201 m.
Which airlines fly to Cape Town International Airport?
Airlines historically serving Cape Town International Airport include Air Botswana, Air Mauritius, Air Namibia, Alitalia, American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, among 19 carriers (based on OpenFlights route data, which may be out of date).
How many destinations are served from Cape Town International Airport?
Historical data lists 23 nonstop destinations from Cape Town International Airport. Always check current schedules.
What time zone is Cape Town International Airport in?
Cape Town International Airport is in the Africa/Johannesburg time zone (UTC+02:00).
What is the magnetic variation at Cape Town International Airport?
The magnetic variation (declination) at Cape Town International Airport is approximately 26.9° W, per the World Magnetic Model. Variation changes slowly over time — always use the current value charted for navigation.
What airports are near Cape Town International Airport?
The nearest airport to Cape Town International Airport is Ysterplaat Air Force Base (FAYP), about 6.9 nm to the nw, followed by Contermanskloof Airstrip and Stellenbosch Airport.
Is the information on this page suitable for flight planning?
No. Cape Town International Airport data here is for reference and training only — not for navigation. Always consult official sources and current charts before any flight.