Both Delta And United Cleared To Add Cape Town Flights

Both Delta and United have been given a larger piece of the Cape Town pie. United Airlines has been cleared to operate service between Washington and Cape Town while Delta has been cleared to operate service from Atlanta.

United Airlines Cleared To Operate 3x Weekly Washington – Cape Town Service

United Airlines has been granted clearance by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to operate three weekly flights between Cape Town (CPT) and its Washington Dulles hub (IAD).

Heralding the news, United President Brett Hart remarked:

“We extend our sincere gratitude to the Department of Transportation, as well as the numerous government and community leaders, airports, customers and employees who supported this application, for recognizing the tremendous benefits to tourism, commerce, and diplomacy that a direct link between Cape Town and Washington DC provides. United has steadily grown its flight offerings to South Africa and across the continent. These new direct flights will promote competition and provide affordable and consistent service to Africa for U.S. travelers.”

United tells Live and Let’s Fly it will commence ticket sales shortly on this new route. A Boeing 787-9 will be used. Service will start on November 17, 2022.

Cape Town service from Newark is now year-round. The new Dulles route will also be year around.

Delta Air Lines Cleared To Operate 3x Weekly Atlanta – Cape Town Service

Meanwhile, Delta has also been cleared to operate three flights per week on a year-round basis from its Atlanta (ATL) hub.

Delta plans to utilize an A350-900 on the route and operate nonstop (its triangle idea was scrapped due to the lack of regulatory approval from South Africa) according to this schedule:

• Depart Atlanta (ATL) – 8:45PM, Arrive Cape Town (CPT) – 6:45PM+1 day
• Depart Cape Town (CPT) – 9:00PM, Arrive Atlanta (ATL) – 6:25AM+1 day

Service will launch on November 18, 2022.

> Read More: South Africa Blocks Delta Air Lines From Flying To Cape Town

CONCLUSION

This winter, you can look forward to two new longhaul routes from the USA to Cape Town, with six weekly flights, split between Delta and United.

Originally, only four weekly slots were available for new service from the USA to Cape Town, with Delta and United each requesting three. South Africa has blessed two additional slot awards, so the baby did not have to be divided: each were given the three slots they requested.

You can review the DOT order here.

image: Delta