By air. Catumbela has its own airport — Catumbela Airport (CBT), also known as Benguela Airport — about 3km north of the town centre. It serves as the main gateway for the Benguela province, handling domestic flights from Luanda and occasional regional connections. TAAG Angola Airlines operates the Luanda–Catumbela route, with the journey taking around 90 minutes. The airport also handles some charter traffic and is used as an alternative to Lobito for the industrial hinterland.
By road. Catumbela sits on the main coastal highway between Benguela (15km south) and Lobito (25km north). The road is paved and well-maintained by Angolan standards, and shared minibuses (known locally as candongueiros) run frequently between all three towns throughout the day. The journey from Benguela takes around 20 minutes; from Lobito, about 30 minutes. Private taxis are also available from both cities.
From Luanda. The drive from Luanda is around 500km south on the EN1 national highway, taking six to eight hours depending on conditions. Bus companies including Macon and São Jorge operate daily services between Luanda and Benguela, most of which stop in Catumbela.