South Africa's aviation sector experiences a promising recovery during the festive season

SOUTH AFRICA'S aviation sector has shown a mixed yet largely positive performance over the festive season, with air traffic movements indicating a robust resurgence in tourism and travel demand, despite facing several challenges.

The Border Management Authority reported managing 7,787 aircraft during the festive season's operations. Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille announced that South Africa welcomed a record 10.48 million international arrivals between January and December 2025, reflecting a significant 17.6% increase compared to 2024.

Data from Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) confirmed that the country's three major international airports—O.R. Tambo International, Cape Town International, and King Shaka International—all experienced increases in air traffic movement in December 2025 compared to the previous year.

The results were particularly encouraging at the two busiest hubs. O.R. Tambo International saw a 3.61% increase, while Cape Town International recorded a 3.18% rise above pre-Covid-19 traffic levels.

Professor Waldo Krugell, an economist at North-West University, commented, "If people are flying around and taking vacations, it is good news for the economy," linking the rising air traffic numbers directly to the increase in tourism observed at the end of last year.

"It would be even better if we also see more business travel this year," he added

Brett Tungay, the national chairperson of the Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (FEDHASA), welcomed the data, describing it as "a positive indicator of continued recovery and growth in travel and tourism."

"increased air connectivity directly supports the hospitality sector, driving demand for accommodation, restaurants, conferencing, and related services," he says

The performance of O.R. Tambo and Cape Town International, in particular, signals renewed confidence among travellers and improved airline capacity.

"The fact that O.R. Tambo International Airport and Cape Town International Airport have exceeded pre-Covid traffic levels is encouraging and reflects renewed traveller confidence, strong leisure demand, and improved airline capacity on key routes," Tungay says

However, the recovery narrative is not uniform. King Shaka International Airport in KwaZulu-Natal, despite an 8.12% increase in December 2025 traffic compared to 2024, remains a concern, as its traffic is still below pre-Covid levels. Krugell suspects this issue is linked to "the broader tourism challenges in the province."

"While the 8.12% increase at King Shaka International Airport is a positive sign, the fact that traffic remains below pre-Covid levels remains a concern. KwaZulu-Natal is a critical tourism and business destination, and sustained recovery at King Shaka is essential for the regional hospitality sector," Tungay added

According to Tungay, a continued focus on route development, competitive airport charges, reliable scheduling, and strong destination marketing will be crucial to accelerating recovery. FEDHASA believes that sustained recovery and long-term growth will depend on close collaboration between government, aviation authorities, airports, airlines, and the tourism industry to address operational constraints and foster a resilient, globally competitive travel environment.

The festive season's success was marred by widely reported operational disruptions, particularly at O.R. Tambo, raising questions about the system's resilience under strain. FEDHASA expressed concern over "persistent understaffing at Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS), as well as delays in the renewal of instrument flight procedures."

"These systemic issues have resulted in flight delays, cancellations, and diversions, particularly during periods of poor weather, which negatively impact traveller confidence and place strain on hospitality operators and destinations," stated Tungay

An incident at O.R. Tambo on Sunday, January 4, 2026, where flight delays and diversions were caused by a combination of staffing shortages and severe thunderstorms, highlighted these operational vulnerabilities.

Airlink, a regional carrier, attributed the bulk of its delays to ATNS staffing shortages, with 31 of its flights delayed departing O.R. Tambo, leading to knock-on disruptions across a further 69 flights.

Linden Birns, Airlink's public relations advisor, reported, "The average departure delay at O.R. Tambo was 74 minutes," adding that this was in addition to other delays caused by Air Traffic Control staff shortages and traffic restrictions.

Ulrich Joubert, an independent economist, praised the overall growth but stressed that a strong tourism industry—South Africa’s key competitive advantage—demands robust infrastructure and safety.

"We need to expand and develop our tourist industry, and it will create jobs," he said

"but to do that, we have to have good infrastructure."

"We have to make sure that they have a safe stay in South Africa, whether that's for work or vacation."

While ATNS stated that it delivered "a world-class safe and efficient air traffic service" over the period, acknowledging the dedication of staff who often worked without festive leave, the industry consensus is that more work is needed.

"Addressing staffing shortages at ATNS and prioritising the timely renewal of instrument procedures are critical to improving service reliability," added Tungay.

The festive season confirmed that travel demand has returned, providing a much-needed boost to the economy. However, Krugell cautioned that for the country to fully capitalise on its renewed tourism momentum, "we should not forget the importance of air transport and getting things right at the airports and in aviation."

SUNDAY TRIBUNE