The highest number of international aircraft movements in the past 10 years was recorded in 2014, according to the latest South Africa Survey, released by the South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR).
Between 2002/03 and 2013/14 international aircraft movements increased by 57% from 47,294 to 74,088.
"Although South Africa sits at the bottom of Africa, geographically isolated from the rest of the world, infrastructure upgrades to our major airports have ensured that the country continues to be a hub with improved connectivity," the IRR said in a statement.
The tremendous growth in international aircraft movements is not carried through in domestic and regional movements, however.
In the same period, domestic aircraft movements increased by 20% from 210,372 to 251,953, while regional aircraft movements decreased by 13% from 25,530 to 22,263.
IRR analyst, Roshuma Phungo, said that the data showed South Africa was already reaping the rewards of the ongoing infrastructure upgrade projects at the three major airports. However, she warned that policy makers should keep an eye on the progress in Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (Ethiopia) and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (Kenya) to keep abreast of developments with the potential to displace OR Tambo International Airport as the busiest airport in Africa.
Maintaining this advantage would require continuing improvements not only at the airports but transport and cargo storage links as well.
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