02-12-2016
The new direct route will help to grow the Cape’s business with Germany. Currently the market is the province’s sixth largest trading partner, our second biggest foreign direct investor, and our second largest tourism source market - with 170 000 German tourists visiting every year.
A number of major German logistics, manufacturing and energy companies have opened successful branches in the Cape, and others such as DHL are running their entire African operation out of the Cape.
The new route launched today will help to grow the relationship as it provides three weekly direct flights between Cape Town International Airport and Frankfurt Airport. The route is the result of extensive lobbying and support from Cape Town Air Access.
Cape Town Air Access is collaboration between the Western Cape Government, City of Cape Town, Airports Company of South Africa and Cape Town Tourism that is mandated to improve international air route development in the Cape through joint marketing and networking opportunities.
The division has already secured five new international routes and six expansions since its establishment in 2015, and played a pivotal role in Cape Town International Airport’s recent Routes 2016 Marketing Award win. It has also upped the number of direct seats in and out of Cape Town International Airport by 408 400 – helping the airport to surpass its 10 million annual passenger target this year.
Wesgro is the official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape. CEO Tim Harris said “Traffic from Europe to Cape Town is growing by 13% this year, with bookings from some major German regions growing by 30%. Lufthansa’s new direct route will go a long way in helping the Cape meet this demand, and grow economic relations with Germany.”
“For nearly six decades, Lufthansa has connected Africa to the rest of the world, and South Africa as a key market remains a strategic focus for the group. Cape Town has risen significantly in global rankings as a preferred destination for both leisure and business travellers and we plan to extend the service to five weekly flights in the European Winter season of 2017/2018,” said Tamur Goudarzi-Pour, Lufthansa Vice President for Sales Africa and Middle East.
This new route will also be supported by a Munich flight in our summer season, and Wesgro looks forward to welcoming the new influx of German visitors.