Travel Updates

Travel Updates 

  Cape Town Airport Best in the World

For over a decade, AirHelp has ranked more than 200 airports worldwide on punctuality, service, and amenities. In the 2025 AirHelp ranking, Cape Town International Airport (CPT) took the top spot globally — a result drawn from extensive operational data and more than 13,500 passenger reviews across 58 countries. CPT performed strongly across all core metrics, from on‑time departures to service quality. Arriving in Cape Town offers more than efficiency. 

 

 Approaching aircraft are treated to spectacular views of Table Mountain, Table Bay, and the dramatic Cape Peninsula. And the city’s many cultural treasures — from the Bo‑Kaap’s Cape Malay heritage, to Robben Island’s historic prison, to the oldest vineyards in the Southern Hemisphere — begins just minutes from the terminal.

Airports can set the tone for an entire trip. Cape Town International now holds the distinction of offering one of the smoothest entries into one of the world’s great cities.

 

New VIP Terminal at Arusha Kilimanjaro Airport

 Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania is set to open Uhuru VIP Terminal providing fee-based services such as check-in support, immigration assistance and security screening, alongside arrival clearance services.  A lounge area will serve meals and drinks while additional amenities include short-stay rooms, quiet areas and shower facilities. VIP areas will provide additional privacy for high-profile travelers.

                                                                       

South Africa introduces Online Traveler Declaration

Effective 1 July 2026, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) requires travelers entering or departing South Africa to complete an online Traveler Declaration before travel. The declaration forms part of the Customs process for declaring goods, currency and other applicable items, and can be found Here.  

As with online visa applications for various African countries, Classic Africa will be providing our clients with step-by-step instructions for completing these Declaration Forms, which needs to be done within 24 hours of arrival in or departure from South Africa.

Currently, the requirement is not being enforced, and we have not heard of any travelers being asked for proof of having completed the forms, but this may change in future.

 

Increased Airlift to Africa

Reflecting the growing importance of Africa for leisure (and business) travel, and restored confidence in connections through the Middle East, both Qatar and Emirates are increasing their airlift to and from major travel destinations across Africa.

Qatar

• Flights to Cape Town will increase from seven to 10 weekly flights
• Flights on the Maputo/Durban route will increase from four to seven weekly flights.  
•  Dar es Salaam – from three weekly flights to seven. 
•  Lusaka/Harare –from five weekly flights to seven. 
• The airline has also restarted four weekly flights to Seychelles and two weekly flights to Kigali. 

  Emirates

• Cape Town routing increased to three flights per day
• The airline will also reintroduce a fourth daily service between Johannesburg and Dubai
• Nairobi routing increased to three flights per day

 

Airlink Adds Zanzibar, Curtails Maun

South Africa based carrier Airlink has added a direct service from Cape Town to Zanzibar, operating once weekly, on a Saturday. This follows the recent, successful introduction of a direct service from Johannesburg to Zanzibar, operating twice weekly (Wednesday and Sunday). On the other hand, the airline has reduced the frequency of its direct Cape Town to Maun flights from daily to four times weekly (Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday).