The reduction in capacity by South African Airways (SAA) has had a significant effect on Johannesburg’s status as South Africa’s primary airport hub.
Johannesburg used to serve as a primary gateway for visitors to South Africa and Southern Africa.
However, OR Tambo International Airport’s significance as a primary hub has reduced since the Covid-19. International arrivals at OR Tambo International Airport have declined somewhat since the pandemic.
RISE OF CAPE TOWN AIRPORT AS A HUB
A number of international carriers now fly not only to Johannesburg, but also to Durban and Cape Town. Emirates and Qatar Airways fly to all three cities.
Other airlines including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, KLM, Lufthansa, Air France, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines operate flights into both Johannesburg and Cape Town. Thus, offering passengers the opportunity to reach their chosen destinations in South Africa more conveniently and quickly.
Airport’s Company South Africa (ACSA) spokesperson Ofentse Dijoe told Tourism Update that more direct long-haul services to both Cape Town and Durban had reduced the number of passengers using Johannesburg as a point of entry.
“Airlines can now fly directly to all three cities, allowing travellers to enter the country closer to their actual destination. The current three-hub system has therefore led to a structural shift in travel patterns – not necessarily a diversion of passengers from Gauteng but rather a more accurate reflection of true arrival points,” Dijoe said.
SMALLER SAA IMPACTS JOHANNESBURG’S AIRPORT HUB STATUS
The fact that the national carrier, South African Airways, has a reduced capacity is significant. The airline restarted operations in September 2021, with only a fraction of its former routes and services.
It’s operations still focus around Johannesburg, with just one international route out of Cape Town: Sao Paulo, Brazil, That said, the airline is ramping up services with various new routes on the horizon. SAA will launch flights between Johannesburg and Gaborone as well as between Cape Town and Mauritius.
However, prior to 2020, under the single-hub model, SAA accounted for over 40% of the total international air travel market in South Africa, with its operations centred in Johannesburg.
Cape Town now has direct services to Europe, the UK, the USA, the Middle East and Asia. There are also direct flights to numerous points in Africa including Victoria Falls, Livingstone, Maun, Gaborone, Windhoek and even Nairobi. This connectivity was not as well developed prior to the pandemic.
“SAA’s reduced international footprint has significantly impacted the airport’s long-haul volumes. Before 2020, SAA operated multiple daily long-haul services – many have not yet returned,” Dijoe said.
While numerous international airlines operated scheduled services into only Johannesburg prior to the pandemic, several now offer flights to Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.
Cape Town, with its global appeal as tourist destination, coupled with more direct international flights as well as an active air services initiative (Cape Town Air Access), is seeing more airlines fly directly into the city.
Other reasons for Johannesburg’s decline include a lack of investment in air access and destination marketing.
