Ten Years of Turkish Airlines Connecting Cape Town and Istanbul

Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, James Vos, joined the celebrations of the 10-year anniversary of the Cape Town–Istanbul route operated by Turkish Airlines.

In his address, Vos called the route “a lifeline connecting two incredible cities through trade, tourism, and investment.” He reflected that his visits to Istanbul and Izmir have fostered stronger partnerships, and highlighted opportunities like the Istanbul Tourism Fair — enabled by Turkish Airlines — as key platforms for building Cape Town’s global links.

Vos praised the Turkish Airlines team at Cape Town International Airport for their professionalism and dedication. He emphasized the airline’s ongoing role in connecting Cape Town “to the world with style, reliability, and opportunity.”

He also drew attention to the economic significance of air access: Cape Town International welcomed over 10 million passengers last year and handled 75,000 tonnes of cargo, with both passenger and cargo volumes increasing this year.

On tourism’s role in job creation, Vos reminded the audience: “Every ten tourists create one job, so these flights translate into more opportunities for Capetonians.”