Cape Town International Airport has once again secured its position as the best airport in Africa, extending its winning streak to an impressive eleven consecutive years. The recognition came at the prestigious Skytrax World Airport Awards 2026, reinforcing South Africa’s dominance in the continent’s aviation sector.
Skytrax, a globally respected authority in air travel rankings, conducted the awards through one of the largest passenger satisfaction surveys worldwide. The survey assessed over 575 airports and gathered feedback from travelers representing more than 100 nationalities. As a result, the rankings reflect real passenger experiences across multiple service points.
The Cape Town hub stood out not only for overall excellence but also for delivering the best airport staff service in Africa. In addition, it earned recognition as the cleanest airport on the continent. These achievements highlight consistent improvements in passenger comfort, operational efficiency, and service delivery.
The evaluation covered the full airport journey. It examined check-in processes, arrivals, transfers, shopping experiences, and security procedures. Furthermore, it measured passenger satisfaction at departure gates. The survey period ran from August 2025 through February 2026, ensuring recent and relevant data.
South Africa’s aviation sector delivered a strong collective performance. O.R. Tambo International Airport ranked as the second-best airport in Africa, while King Shaka International Airport secured fourth place. Notably, King Shaka also ranked as the second-best regional airport on the continent, strengthening its global reputation.
Several regional airports also earned recognition. Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport placed fourth among Africa’s regional airports. Meanwhile, Bram Fischer International Airport and King Phalo Airport followed closely in fifth and sixth positions. This widespread recognition highlights the country’s growing airport network strength.
Fani Mphaphuli, Acting Group Executive of Operations Management at Airports Company South Africa, praised the achievement. She emphasized that the awards reflect the dedication and professionalism of staff and stakeholders nationwide. Moreover, she noted that teams continue to deliver safe and seamless travel experiences to millions of passengers each year.
She added that the recognition motivates the organization to aim higher. As a result, Airports Company South Africa continues to position the country as a leading aviation hub in Africa.
Globally, Cape Town International Airport and O.R. Tambo International Airport remain the only South African airports in the top 100 rankings. Cape Town placed 74th worldwide, while O.R. Tambo followed at 84th. Although both airports dropped slightly compared to last year, they maintained competitive global standings.
Cape Town fell from 62nd place in 2025, while O.R. Tambo moved down from 75th. However, both airports still outperformed several major international hubs. O.R. Tambo, for instance, ranked ahead of New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Despite minor shifts in global rankings, industry analysts view South Africa’s performance as strong and consistent. The continued recognition confirms the country’s commitment to world-class infrastructure and passenger-focused services.
The Skytrax World Airport Awards, established in 1999, remain one of the most respected benchmarks in aviation. Consequently, winning these awards signals excellence and builds trust among global travelers.
For Africa’s aviation industry, Cape Town International Airport’s continued dominance sets a high standard. As competition grows across the continent, the airport’s consistent performance shows what is possible with strategic investment and customer-focused innovation.
