Cape Town International Airport (CPT) is located approximately 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the Cape Town CBD and serves as the primary international airport for the city. It is the second-busiest airport in South Africa and fourth-busiest in Africa. First opened in 1954 to replace Wingfield Aerodrome, it remains the only airport in the Cape Town metropolitan area providing scheduled passenger services. The facility features direct domestic connections across South Africa alongside international routes spanning Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, South America, Australia, and the United States.
The airport layout consists of separate domestic and international terminals linked together by a central terminal building. All passenger check-in takes place within this central building, which houses 120 check-in desks and 20 self-service kiosks. After clearing a consolidated security screening area, travellers head north to the international terminal or south to the domestic terminal. The facility utilizes a split-level design where departures sit on the upper levels and arrivals on the lower levels, with an elevated roadway providing access to both.
01 Terminals & concourses
Links the domestic and international terminals and handles all passenger check-in via 120 desks and 20 self-service kiosks. It operates on a split-level design with departures on upper floors, arrivals on lower floors, airside retail outlets, and 3rd-floor dining overlooking the tarmac.
Positioned on the northern side of the airport for international departures and arrivals. It features Customs and Immigration facilities, duty-free shops, lounges, restaurants, airline offices, prayer rooms, and chapels.
Located on the southern side of the airport for flights within South Africa. It offers the same general facilities as the international terminal, with the exception of immigration processing.
Airport map
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the whole airport — terminals, concourses, access roads and the parking garages. Zoom in for gate-level detail.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free). Official gate/terminal maps are copyrighted — we link to them.
Lost, delayed or damaged baggage at CPT
If your checked bag doesn't turn up on the belt, act before you leave the baggage-claim area — that's where every airline keeps its Baggage Service Office.
- Go to your airline's Baggage Service Office in the baggage-claim hall of your arrival terminal.
- File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) and get your file reference (WorldTracer) number. Keep your bag-tag receipt and boarding pass.
- Track it online using that reference on your airline's baggage-tracking page — most bags are located within 24–48 hours.
- Claim your essentials. On delayed bags airlines reimburse reasonable interim purchases (toiletries, clothing) — keep receipts. International trips are covered by the Montreal Convention.
- If it's truly lost (generally after 21 days) or damaged, file the claim at the same office — damage must be reported before you leave the airport.
Left something in the terminal (not a checked bag)? That's handled by the airport Lost & Found. Items left at a TSA security checkpoint are held by the TSA, not the airline.
02 Getting to & from CPT
These are the ground-transport options connecting the airport with the city. Fares and schedules change — check the operator before you travel.
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Road | Accessible via Airport Approach Road from the N2 freeway (exit 16) or indirectly from the R300 freeway via the M12, M10, and M22. |
| Road | Metered taxis, e-hailing services (Uber, Bolt), and private shuttle companies serve the airport, with a dedicated drop & go area. |
| Rail | There is no direct rail access to the airport. |
03 Lounges & amenities
Airport lounges, including the Bidvest and South African Airways lounges, are located on the 4th floor of the Central Terminal.
