THE Western Cape’s air access initiative is beginning to yield positive results, with a number of new non-stop routes for flights having been established in the past few years.
Late last year, British Airways confirmed that it was cancelling two of its weekly services between London’s Heathrow airport and Cape Town International from March for the duration of the British summer season.
Virgin Atlantic also dropped its direct flight between London and Cape Town last year.
The Western Cape’s department of economic development and tourism has developed an air-access strategy in partnership with Wesgro, the City of Cape Town, and Airports Company SA.
Wesgro is the province’s official trade and investment promotion agency. It is due officially today launch its Air Access Division.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Wesgro CE Tim Harris said the initiative represented the first "joined-up" effort to improve the province’s connectivity with the rest of Africa and the world.
The initiative had already assisted in the establishment of new nonstop routes to Istanbul, Maun and Gatwick, and expanding routes to Addis Ababa and Amsterdam, Mr Harris said.
"Their specific goals are to improve connectivity to the rest of Africa, and work on nonstop routes to China and the US — but they will work with airlines on any route with a strong business case for the Cape," he said.
Meanwhile, Western Cape economic opportunities MEC Alan Winde said tourism numbers for the province were on the rise.
In terms of a snapshot of tourism numbers for the 2015 summer season released by his department, there had been a 8.9% year-on-year growth in arrivals at Cape Town International Airport, with passenger numbers breaking the 9-million mark last year.
Between 2013 and last year, passenger arrivals increased more than 1-million.
Tim Harris. Picture: TREVOR SAMSON
THE Western Cape’s air access initiative is beginning to yield positive results, with a number of new non-stop routes for flights having been established in the past few years.
Late last year, British Airways confirmed that it was cancelling two of its weekly services between London’s Heathrow airport and Cape Town International from March for the duration of the British summer season.
Virgin Atlantic also dropped its direct flight between London and Cape Town last year.
The Western Cape’s department of economic development and tourism has developed an air-access strategy in partnership with Wesgro, the City of Cape Town, and Airports Company SA.
Wesgro is the province’s official trade and investment promotion agency. It is due officially today launch its Air Access Division.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Wesgro CE Tim Harris said the initiative represented the first "joined-up" effort to improve the province’s connectivity with the rest of Africa and the world.
The initiative had already assisted in the establishment of new nonstop routes to Istanbul, Maun and Gatwick, and expanding routes to Addis Ababa and Amsterdam, Mr Harris said.
"Their specific goals are to improve connectivity to the rest of Africa, and work on nonstop routes to China and the US — but they will work with airlines on any route with a strong business case for the Cape," he said.
Meanwhile, Western Cape economic opportunities MEC Alan Winde said tourism numbers for the province were on the rise.
In terms of a snapshot of tourism numbers for the 2015 summer season released by his department, there had been a 8.9% year-on-year growth in arrivals at Cape Town International Airport, with passenger numbers breaking the 9-million mark last year.
Between 2013 and last year, passenger arrivals increased more than 1-million.
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