United Airlines will makes its Newark to Cape Town service year-round, offering a near-interrupted link to one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Cape Town Service Now Year-Round On United Airlines
United’s Cape Town service was set to end in late March, March 24th to be exact. It then faced a hiatus for until October, accounting for the lower demand during the Southern Hemisphere winter months.
But today United announced that the hiatus would only last until June 5th this year and that going forward the EWR-CPT route will be year-around.
Patrick Quayle, United’s Senior Vice President of International Network Planning and Alliances, explained:
“By offering flights to Cape Town year-round, we’re making it even easier for our customers to visit one of the world’s best destinations. United’s direct flights from New York/Newark cut the usual travel time to Cape Town by more than five hours, giving visitors extra time to enjoy the beauty and majesty of South Africa.”
It’s no surprise why United’s Cape Town flights have done well. South Africa is a beautiful nation and gateway to the rest of southern Africa. With South African Airways having (perhaps permanently) suspended intercontinental service, there is a market with less competition than ever before (Delta also cut its planned Cape Town triangle flight).
As Quayle mentioned, flying direct from the U.S. East Coast saves several hours connecting in Europe and in my opinion allows for a better flight, since you really can enjoy a long rest between meals.
United is using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on the flight with 48 seats in business class, 21 seats in premium economy, 39 seats in extra legroom economy class, and 149 seats in economy class. The flight will operate Wednesday/Friday/Sunday southbound and Monday/Thursday/Saturday northbound.
The new space is bookable now and there is some saver award space and confirmed upgrade space available. If interested, book today because it probably will not be available tomorrow (that seems to be the trend when United loads a new route or schedule into its system).
CONLCUSION
As I look to visiting several nations in Africa later this year, I am excited to see United resume its Cape Town flight four months ahead of schedule and also make it year-round. If you are considering a trip to Cape Town this year and want to use your miles, today would be a very good day to look at space.
Does United have competition on any of its 4 Africa routes from another US carrier? I thought Delta served a few of these routes but now they don’t have planes that can reach one of these places right? Which route was that?
(What a joke haha don’t have a plane long each to reach one of your destinations horrible planning as usual by an incompetent Delta leadership team)
Delta still operates flights to Africa from both JFK and ATL, but United faces no direct competition on their EWR-JNB or EWR-CPT routes and their Africa flights out of IAD I don’t think face direct competition as well.
Cape Town has been struggling with a lack of enough fresh water for several years now.
When I go back again as a National Parks tourist, I will be going through Johannesburg.
I have flown SAA and DL to Johannesburg via Accra on the way back. I expect DL to add S Africa again once covid is under control.
I think United is too quick to add some international flights without doing their homework.
You think that Delta has done a better job with international capacity than United?
Wow, that is a bold statement! I mean I guess Delta’s international network is tiny compared to United but still a bold take!
We are from Cape Town, now living in Chicago. We visited Cape Town over Christmas and used this flight. The timing of this United flight is perfect for minimal jet lag, both ways, especially with our little children.
Also, fyi.. the drought in the Cape Town area is over. All the dams are full after a good Winter rainy season. They depend on winter rain and had several years with next to nothing.
Cape Towns water crisis was in 2018, by August of 2019 their dams were over 80% full and by 2020 the dams were completely full and they had to release water to keep them from overflowing.
United launched EWR-CPT in December of 2019 and they launched EWR-JNB only after their Star Alliance partner South African Airways ceased all flights to the U.S.. So basically United restored a vital nonstop link between the Northeast and Johannesburg after SAA ended their flights to New York.
Talk about doing homework I think someone else didn’t do their homework whereas United has done theirs.