Flights to Cape Town

Airlines providing flights to Cape Town from the UK include South African Airways, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic Airways and United Airlines.

Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
Tel: (021) 937 1200 or 0867 277 888 (flight information).
Website: www.airports.co.za 
The international airport is 22km (14 miles) east of Cape Town on the N2 highway. The airport has expanded and modernised to handle an influx of visitors for the 2010 World Cup.

A dazzling new five-storey Central Terminal Building handles both international and domestic check-ins, with 120 desks and 20 self-service machines. An extra 4,000 parking bays and 30 new shops and restaurants have been added. A handful of airlines operate extensive domestic networks, which is handy since the county is dauntingly large to drive around.

Airport facilities
These include foreign exchange, ATMs, tourist information, a clinic, mobile phone hire, Wi-Fi access, VIP room, a conference centre and car hire from Avis, Budget, Dollar Thrifty, Europcar, Hertz, Imperial, National and Tempest.

Transport to the city
South Africa is distinctly third world in its lack of public transport, with no trains or public bus service from the airport. Taxis outside the airport will charge about R250 (around £22) to the city centre.

Shuttle buses are run by Anwar’s Tourist Services (tel: (021) 692 0951; www.anwartravel.com) and Randy’s Tours (tel: (021) 706 0166; www.randystours.com) among others. The tourist office will point you in the right direction. Most luxury hotels can arrange airport transfers.

Approximate flight times to Cape Town
From London - 12 hours 40 minutes; New York - at least 23 hours; Los Angeles - 27 hours 30 minutes; Toronto - 25 hours 45 minutes; Sydney - 16 hours.