South African airports at a glance
Passenger figures from the airport operators, with year and publisher.
How do you plan airport advertising in South Africa?
Decide which airports and terminals matter to your brand, who you need to reach, the campaign objective, dates, preferred formats and budget. Then compare named advertising sites by terminal, passenger zone, share of display, artwork rules, local charges and the proof the media owner provides after the campaign.
South African airports by audience
Start with the airport and terminal closest to your customer journey. The final shortlist is built from current passenger information and confirmed inventory.
| Goal | Airport examples | Planning use |
|---|---|---|
| International and leisure visitors | Cape Town International terminal (3.3 million international passengers in 2025) | Tourism, hospitality, wine and lifestyle brands, premium retail, banking and forex |
| Domestic travellers | Cape Town domestic flows (7.8 million domestic passengers in 2025) | Telecoms, insurance, FMCG, automotive, mass-market retail |
| Festive season holidaymakers | Cape Town airport in December (1.1 million passengers in the month) | Seasonal retail, travel, entertainment and event campaigns |
Airport advertising formats at Cape Town International
4 formats are published at Cape Town International, each with its rate in ZAR.
Backlit static and classic
- •ZAR 15,000–75,000+ / 4 weeks
- •Classic backlit static sites in the terminal, booked by the four-week cycle.
Digital screen and Airport TV
- •ZAR 25,000–120,000+ / 4 weeks
- •Digital screens in the airport TV network, booked by the four-week cycle.
Digital spectacular and video wall
- •From ZAR 100,000 / 4 weeks
- •Large video walls and digital spectaculars, the top tier of digital at Cape Town International.
Baggage claim and arrivals
- •ZAR 20,000–90,000+ / 4 weeks
- •Placements in the baggage claim and arrivals areas, seen by every arriving passenger.
Airports we cover
Cape Town International, the Western Cape’s main gateway.
Cape Town International, the main gateway to the Western Cape and one of South Africa’s busiest airports.
Airport advertising in Cape Town (CPT)
5.6 million passengers in 2025/26 (year to 31 March 2026). Published rates in ZAR.
Airport advertising in Durban
More than 2 million passengers a year. Published rates in ZAR.
Airport advertising in LanseriaAirport advertising cost in South Africa
Published 2026 benchmarks at Cape Town International run from ZAR 15,000 to ZAR 120,000+, depending on format and period.
Indicative ZAR benchmarks for 2026, media only, before production and tax. Confirmed for your dates before booking.
Get a costed site plan| Format | Cape Town International (CPT) |
|---|---|
| Backlit static and classic | ZAR 15,000–75,000+ / 4 weeks |
| Digital screen and Airport TV | ZAR 25,000–120,000+ / 4 weeks |
| Digital spectacular and video wall | From ZAR 100,000 / 4 weeks |
| Baggage claim and arrivals | ZAR 20,000–90,000+ / 4 weeks |
Airport advertising cost comparison
Every South African quote names the airport, terminal, zone, format and price basis in ZAR, so options can be compared before sign-off.
| Goal | Charging basis | What changes the figure |
|---|---|---|
| Digital screen network | Quoted per network, period and share of display | Number of screens, terminal, loop share and campaign length |
| Backlit or static site | Quoted per site and booking period | Airport, terminal, zone, size and duration |
| Large-format wrap or landmark | Quoted per site or campaign package | Size, location, exclusivity and approval time |
| Printing and installation | Quoted as a production service | Material, dimensions, installation, removal and approvals |
| Sponsorship or domination | Quoted as a package | Included media, duration, exclusivity and production |
| VAT | 15% on the quoted amount | Shown as a separate line on the quotation |
Why South African airport advertising prices vary
The airport and terminal
Each terminal at Cape Town differs in passenger volume, airline mix and advertising inventory, so a site is worth what it does for your audience and objective, not just the passenger count.
The zone and share of display
In South Africa, departures, gates, arrivals and baggage claim reach passengers at different moments, and a dedicated site is priced differently from a digital loop shared with other advertisers.
The campaign period and format
Cape Town set a monthly record of 1.1 million two-way passengers in December 2025, up 8% year on year (ACSA statistics via Tourism Update). These periods affect demand and availability, and wraps, sponsorships and activations carry their own production and approval requirements.
Production and installation
Artwork adaptation, printing, installation and removal add to the media rate, and 15% VAT goes on top. Your quote itemises every line.
South African airport advertising, airport by airport
Each airport has its own rate basis and media owner. This is the short version.
Request a media plan for South AfricaCape Town airport advertising
CPT11.1 million passengers in 2025 (ACSA, Jan 2026).
Durban airport advertising
DUR5.6 million passengers in 2025/26 (year to 31 March 2026) (ACSA). Advertising is sold by Airport Ads.
Lanseria airport advertising
HLAMore than 2 million passengers a year (Airport Ads, Feb 2025). Advertising is sold by Airport Ads.
Who advertises at South African airports
Travel and tourism
Hotels, airlines, tour operators and destination boards reach travellers while they are choosing where to stay and what to do.
Property and finance
Developers, banks and wealth managers reach business and international audiences in the calm moments of a journey.
Retail and luxury
Brands with a point of sale at or near the airport turn passenger dwell time into footfall.
Telecom and technology
Digital screens suit app installs, plan launches and product announcements that change quickly.
Automotive
Large-format and premium sites carry model launches to an affluent, mobile audience.
Government and events
Trade fairs, tourism campaigns and public information reach international visitors on arrival.
How a South African airport advertising campaign is booked
Five steps from brief to campaign record.
Start the briefDefine the airport coverage
Step 1Choose the airports and terminals to reach in South Africa, as one South Africa plan or separate airport proposals.
Review the site and rate plan
Step 2We shortlist sites at Cape Town and compare locations, formats and current quotations in ZAR, each with its zone, period and price basis.
Confirm artwork for each site
Step 3Each design is checked against site dimensions, file specifications and content rules. Different formats get their own versions, not one design resized.
Confirm the booking
Step 4You approve the schedule, terms, production and dates. The booking is confirmed once inventory and approvals are secured.
Reconcile site by site
Step 5Each booking is checked against the approved plan, with installation photographs, playback reports or another agreed record.
Why airport advertising works in South Africa
CPT 11.1 million (2025) passengers. Passenger numbers show market scale, not guaranteed impressions or sales.
Access to international travellers
Cape Town connects South Africa with international and regional routes, so a brand can reach travellers in a defined place during their journey.
Visibility at every stage of the journey
Check-in, security, gates, arrivals and baggage claim are separate moments. A campaign can own one zone or carry one message across several.
Coordinated planning across airports
One brief and one artwork process can cover the airport in South Africa, with inventory and approvals confirmed site by site.
Airport ad sites in South Africa
Published sites and formats at this airport, in local currency. Every campaign is quoted against current availability.
South Africa airport advertising: your questions answered
Airports, costs, artwork and timelines.
Which airports can I advertise at in South Africa?
Cape Town (CPT). Media ownership and available inventory vary by airport and are confirmed for your dates.
How much does airport advertising cost in South Africa?
Published 2026 benchmarks run from ZAR 15,000 for backlit static and classic up to ZAR 120,000+ for digital screen and airport tv. Printing, installation and 15% VAT are added separately.
Who sells advertising at South Africa airports?
It varies by airport. We confirm the current media owner and its availability for your dates before proposing any booking.
Is VAT charged on airport advertising in South Africa?
Yes. 15% VAT is added to the quoted media and production amounts and shown as its own line on the quotation.
Can a campaign target one airport or terminal?
Yes. In South Africa you can book one airport such as Cape Town, a single terminal, or one passenger zone such as arrivals or departures, based on your audience, objective and budget.
What artwork information is needed before booking?
Share the preferred formats, key visual, offer, brand guidelines and any language versions. If finished artwork exists, send its dimensions and file formats so it can be checked against the selected sites. Content rules apply: ACSA does not sell advertising directly; sites are awarded through a concession model and a concessionaire secures the advertisers.
Do peak seasons affect airport advertising?
Yes. Cape Town set a monthly record of 1.1 million two-way passengers in December 2025, up 8% year on year (ACSA statistics via Tourism Update). Confirm your dates early so the plan uses current inventory and quotes.
What does a South African airport advertising quote include?
Depending on the booking: media rental, display period, printing, installation, artwork adaptation, package inclusions and 15% VAT, itemised line by line.
How long does it take to book airport advertising in South Africa?
Timing depends on inventory, media owner approval, production and installation. The launch date is set once those deadlines are checked for your sites.
What proof of display do I get?
Depending on the format and media owner: installation photographs, digital playback reports or another agreed record. We confirm which one before you approve the booking.
Plan your South African airport
advertising campaign.
Share your target airports, audience, dates and budget to get a shortlist of available sites and current quotations in ZAR.