CAPE TOWN FLIGHT ROUTE US

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Cape Town will get a ‘new non-stop flight’ to the US – here’s how it works

This is something to look forward to for all of our travellers currently stuck indoors. Delta Airlines is adding a Cape Town stop to the US-SA route.

CAPE TOWN FLIGHT ROUTE US

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Despite mounting fears over the future of the travel and tourism industry in South Africa, it has been revealed that Cape Town will add a second non-stop US flight route to its schedule once international travel is permitted again. The return journey home, though, will pass through OR Tambo first.

New flight routes for South Africa

Delta Airlines is retiring its old fleets of 777-200LRs, and that has somewhat altered its existing travel plans. The journey from Atlanta to Johannesburg is classed as an ‘ultra long haul flight’. However, the new models of Airbus A350-900s will now be permitted to touch down in Cape Town and fly to the US hub on a circular route from Johannesburg:

“We’re very confident that there is nothing we were flying back before the crisis that we cannot fly in the future with A350 equipment. Delta will continue Johannesburg flights with the A350 by adding a stop in Cape Town (CPT)”

Delta Airlines president Glen Hauenstein

With demand for international travel dampened by the global health crisis – and a full schedule not expected to return until 2023, the airline had to make tough decisions with its aging fleet. The 777 was, according to specialist airline publication ‘The Points Guy‘, the sacrificial cow in the decision to trim the budget.

What is the new Cape Town-USA flight route?

Delta will thus continue Atlanta-Johannesburg flights with A350-900s by adding a stop in Cape Town (CPT) The new routing will be in a cycle of Atlanta – Johannesburg – Cape Town – Atlanta. We are yet to be given a confirmed date of when this route will officially take flight, but it could be a major boost for SA’s tourism market.

So passengers flying from Johannesburg would be able to stop in the Mother City on the way to Atlanta, but Delta would not be able to sell tickets solely on the domestic South Africa leg without special accommodation from the government. This means that a new Joburg to Cape Town route would not immediately be added to the roster.