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U.S. Airlines Expand Cape Town Routes: A Golden Opportunity for African Travel Agents U.S. Airlines Expand Cape Town Routes: A Golden Opportunity for African Travel Agents

Enhanced air connectivity between the U.S. and South Africa is on the horizon, creating exciting new prospects for African travel agents. United Airlines and Delta Air Lines have submitted applications to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to increase their flight frequencies to Cape Town for the IATA Winter 2025/26 season. This expansion promises to boost tourism, enhance travel options, and unlock new business opportunities for travel professionals across Africa.

This development aligns with the broader trend of increasing air travel between Africa and other global regions. As more airlines recognize the growing demand for travel to and from Africa, they are expanding their routes and frequencies, creating new opportunities for African travel agents to connect their clients with destinations worldwide.

United Airlines plans to increase its service from Newark (EWR) to Cape Town (CPT) from three to four weekly flights. To accommodate this, one frequency from the Newark to Johannesburg (JNB) route will be reallocated, resulting in six weekly flights instead of daily service. Additionally, United is seeking flexibility to route select Newark-Johannesburg flights through Cape Town when necessary. This strategic adjustment reflects the airline’s commitment to optimizing its network and meeting the growing demand for travel to Cape Town.

Delta Air Lines is also enhancing its presence in the market, proposing an increase from three to five weekly flights between Atlanta (ATL) and Cape Town during the peak season (October 26, 2025, to March 28, 2026). Two frequencies from the Atlanta-Johannesburg route will be shifted to support this expansion, with Delta reverting to daily Atlanta-Johannesburg service after the peak season. Delta’s state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 aircraft will service these routes, ensuring a comfortable and modern travel experience for passengers.

For African travel agents, these proposed changes represent a significant opportunity. The increased flight frequencies to Cape Town will provide greater flexibility for travelers, making it easier to connect with clients from the U.S. market. This enhanced connectivity opens doors for travel agents to create more diverse and appealing travel packages, incorporating Cape Town’s vibrant tourism offerings.

Cape Town’s tourism sector is experiencing remarkable growth, with record-breaking visitor numbers and a substantial contribution to the local economy. This surge in tourism demand underscores the strategic importance of expanding air access to the city. The increased flight frequencies proposed by United and Delta will play a crucial role in accommodating this growth and further boosting Cape Town’s appeal as a premier travel destination.

The proposed changes also offer significant benefits for travelers. Increased flight availability translates to greater flexibility in scheduling trips, allowing for more convenient and personalized travel arrangements. The enhanced one-stop connectivity via Newark and Atlanta further streamlines travel, making it easier for passengers to connect with destinations across the U.S. and beyond.

The expansion of air services to Cape Town by United and Delta is a testament to the growing importance of the African travel market. This development presents a golden opportunity for African travel agents to capitalize on the increasing demand for travel to the region. By leveraging these enhanced connections, travel professionals can create exceptional travel experiences for their clients and contribute to the continued growth of Africa’s vibrant tourism industry.

This route map showcases the enhanced flight options between the U.S. and South Africa, highlighting the increased frequencies to Cape Town proposed by United Airlines and Delta Air Lines. This visualization provides African travel agents with a clear overview of the expanded network and its potential to facilitate seamless travel for their clients.