British Airways expands Cape Town route: What travellers need to know

British Airways has confirmed a major boost to its South Africa schedule, with additional flights between London and Cape Town set to launch as part of its expanded winter 2026 long-haul programme.

For travellers planning a trip to South Africa, this is a significant development - and potentially very good news for availability, pricing, and flexibility.

Third daily London–Cape Town flight confirmed

A key development is the introduction of a third daily flight between Heathrow Airport (LHR) in London and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town, starting in December 2026.

This makes one of Africa’s busiest long-haul routes even more accessible during peak travel season, particularly the Southern Hemisphere summer.

Cape Town remains one of the most in-demand long-haul leisure destinations globally - and this increase directly addresses ongoing pressure on flight availability.

What it means for travel to Cape Town

The additional flights align perfectly with:

• South Africa's peak tourism season (December–March)
• Growing global demand for long-haul, nature-based travel
• Increasing capacity upgrades planned at Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town

More flights also strengthen Cape Town's position as a key gateway to Southern Africa, especially for onward travel to:

• The Garden Route
• The Cape Winelands
• Kruger National Park (via connections)

Traveller insight

From a traveller strategy perspective:

• Book early for December/January - demand will still be strong
• Watch for introductory fares or increased Avios availability
• Consider mid-week departures for better pricing
• Use the added frequency to build more efficient itineraries

This move by British Airways is a clear signal: Cape Town demand isn’t slowing - it’s accelerating.

Final thoughts

British Airways’ decision to add a third daily flight to Cape Town is a major win for travellers, improving access to one of Africa’s most iconic destinations.

For anyone planning a South Africa trip in late 2026 or early 2027, this expansion could make your journey easier, more flexible, and potentially more affordable.

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British Airways to add third daily service between London Heathrow and Cape Town!

British Airways, the flag carrier of the United Kingdom, is set to enhance its connectivity between London and Cape Town by introducing an additional frequency during the European Winter 2025/2026 season. From 09 November 2025, the airline will operate a third daily return service between Heathrow Airport (LHR) in London and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town, South Africa.
The new flight, BA45/BA44, is scheduled to depart from London on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with the return leg from Cape Town taking off the following day. This service will complement British Airways’ existing twice-daily flights on the route, further increasing travel options for both leisure and business passengers.

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British Airways and Airlink expand codeshare to include Botswana!

British Airways, the United Kingdom’s flag carrier, and South African regional airline Airlink have expanded their codeshare agreement to include destinations in Botswana. According to reports, the enhanced agreement has been gradually implemented since late January 2025. It now covers Airlink’s return flights between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) in Gaborone, Maun Airport (MUB) in Maun, and Kasane International Airport (BBK) in Kasane. Additionally, from 01 April 2025, the codeshare will extend to Airlink’s new route between Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town and Gaborone.

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UK: British Airways boosts capacity to South Africa!

The flag carrier airline of the United Kingdon, British Airways, is set to increase capacity on its London to Johannesburg route. The airline will introduce a second daily Airbus A380 service between Heathrow Airport (LHR) in London and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg, South Africa, during the Northern summer 2025 season. From 01 June 2025 the second daily Airbus A380 service will replace the Boeing 777-300ER currently operating on this route (BA56/BA57).
The additional Airbus A380 flights will provide 215 more seats between London and Johannesburg - 173 more economy seats, 15 more in premium economy, 21 more in business class and six more in first class than the Boeing 777-300ER. The schedules for the daily flights remain unchanged.

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South Africa: CemAir and British Airways sign & implement an interline agreement!

South African regional carrier CemAir and the flag carrier of the United Kingdom, British Airways, have signed and implemented an interline agreement that opens up connections to more destinations in Southern Africa through British Airways' gateways of Johannesburg and Cape Town. The agreement includes the convenience of single ticket itineraries with onwards booking and baggage transfers from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Bloemfontein, Kimberley, Margate, Durban, Hoedspruit, Plettenberg Bay, George (all in South Africa), Maun (Botswana) and Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe).
British Airways operates double daily flights between London and Johannesburg, as well as up to triple daily flights between London and Cape Town on some days during peak season.

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Airlink & British Airways sign codeshare agreement!

British Airways, the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, and South African privately-owned regional airline Airlink have signed a codeshare agreement. Under the agreement, British Airways’ customers travelling from or transiting through Heathrow Airport (LHR) in London will be able to connect to their final destination via Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town or OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg on a single ticket. In total, 18 destinations are available as codeshare options when travelling from London via Johannesburg and Cape Town. Examples include:

• Heathrow Airport (LHR) in London to Durban via Johannesburg
• Heathrow Airport (LHR) in London to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) via Cape Town or Johannesburg
• Heathrow Airport (LHR) in London to Skukuza via Cape Town or Johannesburg
• Heathrow Airport (LHR) in London to Windhoek via Cape Town or Johannesburg
• Heathrow Airport (LHR) in London to Walvis Bay via Cape Town or Johannesburg

Codeshare tickets are now available to book for travel from 15 February 2023 onwards. Other Southern Africa destinations are pending government approval and might join the codeshare agreement at a later date.

British Airways currently flies twice daily between Heathrow Airport (LHR) in London and Johannesburg with A380 aircraft, twice daily between Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Cape Town with B777 and A350 aircraft and three times per week between Gatwick Airport (LGW) in London and Cape Town with B777 aircraft.

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UK: British Airways to increase flights between London <> Cape Town!

The flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, British Airways, is set to increase flights between Heathrow Airport (LHR) in London and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town. Effective 20 November 2022, the airline will operate two daily return flights to Cape Town instead of the currently daily service. Flights will be onboard the airline's Airbus A350 and Boeing 777 jets.
Starting 13 December 2022, British Airways will also resume its thrice-weekly flights from Gatwick Airport (LGW) in London  to Cape Town. Flights will take off on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday. Both services will run until 25 March 2023.

• London (LHR) 18:25 > 08:00+1 Cape Town
• London (LHR) 22:10 > 11:55+1 Cape Town
• Cape Town 18:40 > 04:45+1 London (LHR)
• Cape Town 21:00 > 06:55+1 London (LHR)

• London (LGW) 20:30 > 10:15+1 Cape Town
• Cape Town 20:10 > 06:20+1 London (LGW)

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UK: British Airways to relaunch flights between London Gatwick <> Cape Town!

The flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, British Airways, is set to relaunch winter seasonal return flights from Gatwick Airport (LGW) in London to Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town in South Africa. The route returns for the first time since Covid-19 on 13 December 2022 and will be operated three times a week on board a Boeing 777-200 until 25 March 2023. Flights depart Gatwick Airport on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with the return flights from Cape Town the following day. Furthermore, British Airway will add capacity on their daily Heathrow Airport (LHR) <> Cape Town route with the resumption of their second daily flight from 13 November 2022 until 25 March 2023 on board an Airbus 350-1000. 

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South Africa: Comair suspends all Kulula, British Airways flights! [update]

update (10 June 2022): Comair’s Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs) have lodged a court application to convert the business rescue proceedings into liquidation proceedings. The company’s employees and customers who held bookings or were owed refunds will now become creditors of Comair.

update (09 June 2022): The Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs) of Comair have announced that the requisite funding could not be raised in order for Comair to continue with its operations and that they no longer believe that there is a reasonable prospect that the Company can be rescued. The notice, which was released by the BRPs earlier today (09 June 2022), does not mention the liquidation of Comair. We'll keep you posted!

update (09 June 2022): Comair has announced that it has reached agreement with South African regional carrier Airlink to accommodate passengers holding a British Airways (operated by Comair) flight for travel 07 – 12 June 2022. British Airways (operated by Comair) customers impacted by the temporary suspension of Comair services for the period have the option to rebook with Airlink at no additional cost, subject to availability. British Airways has also arranged for any of its international customers who had booked regional or domestic connecting flights with Comair, to be reaccommodated on South African Airways (SAA). Meanwhile kulula.com has confirmed that any customers who booked tickets on its sale prior to flights being suspended will be refunded by the end of this week. We'll keep you posted!

South African airline Comair, which operates the low-cost kulula brand and a local franchise of British Airways, has announced on Tuesday evening (31 May 2022) that it is obliged to voluntarily suspend all scheduled flights from 01 June 2022 until further notice pending successfully securing additional funding. Ticket sales have also stopped with immediate effect. The company’s business rescue practitioners (BRPs) have advised that the process to raise the necessary capital is in progress and that there is reason to believe such funding may be secured. Once received, Comair will be able to recommence operations. We'll keep you posted!

• for customers on British Airways (operated by Comair) flights, British Airways’ booking with confidence policy will apply.
• kulula customers on suspended flights have the option of a Travel Bank credit or can request a full refund of their ticket value. The Travel Bank credit can be used by the passenger or someone else. 

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South Africa: Comair suspension lifted, Kulula and British Airways flights to resume!

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has uplifted the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) of Comair (Pty) Ltd. with immediate effect. This brings to an end a five-day long suspension of the AOC which was imposed by SACAA from 12 March 2022. The SACAA audited Comair (Pty) Ltd. following a spate of occurrences that posed safety risks by kulula and British Airways (operated by Comair in South Africa) airlines, which resulted in a temporary suspension of the AOC. British Airways (operated by Comair in South Africa) and kulula flights will start operating again from today (17 March 2022). The airline's schedules will be restored in a phased manner, and customers are advised to check the schedules on the British Airways' and kulula's websites before going to the airport. 

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South Africa: British Airways and Kulula flights are currently grounded! [update]

update (13 March 2022): Following the 24 hour precautionary suspension of Comair (Pty) Ltd.'s Air Operator Certificate (AOC), the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has confirmed that the AOC is now indefinitely suspended. According to SACAA, Comair has not adequately addressed all the necessary safety issues. We'll keep you posted!

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) earlier today suspended the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) of Comair (Pty) Ltd. This affects all British Airways (operated by Comair) and kulula.com flights. According to a media statement by SACAA, this is a precautionary suspension for a period of 24 hours, within which Comair must demonstrate to SACAA that the risk and safety management systems are effective in managing potential hazards. Three of Comair's planes have been involved in mid-air emergencies in the last month. We'll keep you posted!

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South Africa: British Airways adds a third flight to its Johannesburg <> Mauritius schedule!

South African airline Comair, which operates the low-cost kulula brand and a local franchise of British Airways, has announced that British Airways is offering a third scheduled service between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) on Mauritius from today (03 March 2022). The airline, which re-introduced a twice weekly return service in February 2022, flies to Mauritius on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays with flights departing from Johannesburg in the morning and arriving in the late afternoon.

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British Airways to resume flights between London <> Cape Town!

The flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, British Airways, is set to ramp up services to South Africa, with double daily services between Heathrow Airport (LHR) in London and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg expected by mid-December 2021. The airline will also restart services between London and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town, offering three flights a week in November 2021 (02 November 2021?), before moving to a double daily service in December 2021.
As part of the relaunch of its Cape Town service, British Airways Holidays is offering promotions, including special hotel packages in November 2021.

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South Africa: Comair to re-start kulula and British Airways flights!

South African airline Comair, which operates the low-cost kulula brand and a local franchise of British Airways, has announced that it will be back in the skies again from 01 September 2021 as planned. The airline temporarily suspended operations on 05 July 2021 in response to the implementation of an adjusted Level 4 lockdown in South Africa, the prohibition of all non-essential travel in and out of Gauteng and low demand for air travel. During the suspension the services, the airline has developed some new, flexible fare options for its kulula brand to better meet customers’ differing requirements. Called Travel Your Way the three bundled kulula fare offerings allow customers to pay only for what they need. They are:

• Fly Light: A hop-on, hop-off option for those with only cabin bags offering the best possible fares. A change of booking fee of R299 applies.
• Pack & Go: An all-round option to suit most traveller’s needs including one piece of checked luggage weighing up to 20kg and two free booking changes.
• Fully Loaded: A fully flexible option allowing unlimited booking changes, two checked bags and Q-Jump to speed-up check-in procedures.

British Airways (operated by Comair) will re-launch it’s Johannesburg <> Mauritius route operating two flights a week from 30 November 2021. It plans to add a third flight in future.

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British Airways to increase flights to South Africa! [update]

update (12 August 2021): British Airways is planning to resume a daily service between London and Cape Town from 01 November 2021.

update (12 August 2021): British Airways will continue to operate two weekly flights between  London <> Johannesburg until 26 September 2021, subject to change.

The flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, British Airways, has announced that it will increase its service between Heathrow Airport (LHR) in London and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg. Effective 16 August 2021 the airline will operate two instead of just one weekly flight on that route. Flights will depart London for Johannesburg on Thursdays and Saturdays, while the return flights will depart Johannesburg for London on Wednesdays and Sundays. According to British Airways, the bi-weekly service will remain in place until 30 August 2021. From 31 August 2021 until 27 September 2021 the airline is planning to operate daily flights between London and Johannesburg.

• London 21:25 > 09:15+1 Johannesburg on Thursdays and Saturdays
• Johannesburg 21:15 > 07:20+1 London on Wednesdays and Sundays

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Covid-19: Comair extends the temporary suspension of all Kulula and British Airways flights in South Africa! [update]

update (20 August 2021): According to Comair's business rescue practioners (the airline entered into voluntary business rescue proceedings on 05 May 2020 in order to safeguard the company and its stakeholders), the arline is still planning to restart operations in September 2021.

Following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that South Africa will remain on an adjusted level 4 lockdown for at least the next two weeks, South African airline Comair, which operates the low-cost kulula brand and a local franchise of British Airways, has announced that it will extend the suspension of services until 31 August 2021. The airline, which temporarily suspended operations on 05 July 2021, initially planned to resume flights from 30 July 2021. Given the uncertainty of the expected length of the recently adjusted level 4 lockdown in South Africa, restriction of travel in and out of Gauteng coupled with the rampant transmissibility of the Covid-19 "Delta" variant, the airline now decided to extend the suspension of services by one month and plans to resume scheduled operations on 01 September 2021.
According to Comair tickets for travel with kulula for the period 28 June 2021 to 31 August 2021 will remain valid for 12 months until 31 August 2022. No change of booking fee or fare difference will be charged. British Airways' "Book with Confidence" policy also applies to customers holding a valid ticket for flights with British Airways operated by Comair. We'll keep you posted!

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Covid-19: Comair temporarily suspends all Kulula and British Airways flights in South Africa!

South African airline Comair, which operates the low-cost kulula brand and a local franchise of British Airways, has announced the temporary suspension of services in South Africa. The airline will cancel all flights from 05 July 2021 and aims to recommence flights from 30 July 2021, subject to regulations being eased, and Covid-19 infection rates, particularly in Gauteng, being contained. According to Comair, the impact of the new regulations in South Africa and especially the the prohibition of all non-essential travel in and out of Gauteng has led to the decision to temporarily suspend services.
The airline said kulula customers who had a valid ticket booked until 29 July 2021 will be able use their ticket within 12 months from first date of travel without any penalty. British Airways' "Book with Confidence" policy also applies to customers holding a valid ticket for flights with British Airways operated by Comair. We'll keep you posted!

UK: British Airways further extends the cancellation of flights to South Africa! [update]

update (04 June 2021): According to the booking engine on British Airways' website, the airline will now resume non-stop flights between Heathrow Airport (LHR) in London and O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg on 01 July 2021 and. Non-stop flights between London and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town will resume on 01 August 2021. 

update (20 May 2021): According to the booking engine on British Airways' website, the airline will resume non-stop flights between Heathrow Airport (LHR) in London and O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg on 23 June 2021 and non-stop flights between London and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town on 01 August 2021.

The flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, British Airways, has extended the cancellation of flights to South Africa. The airline is now planning to resume non-stop flights between London and Johannesburg in June 2021 and between London and Cape Town in July 2021. According to British Airways' website, the next scheduled non-stop flight between London Heathrow (LHR) in London and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg will take place on 01 June 2021 and between London and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town on 01 July 2021. Both dates are subject to change.  We'll keep you posted!

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South Africa: British Airways to resume flights between Johannesburg <> Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)! [update]

update (21 May 2021): British Airways (operated by Comair) will operate daily flights between Johannesburg and Victoria Falls from 01 June 2021!

British Airways, which is operated by Comair Limited in South Africa, is set to relaunch flights between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. According to the airline's website, flights will resume on 13 May 2021 and will be operated twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays. British Airways is planning to increase the frequency of flights to daily at a later stage. We'll keep you posted!

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South Africa: British Airways to resume flights between Johannesburg <> Harare (Zimbabwe)!

British Airways, which is operated by Comair Limited in South Africa, is set to resume flights between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and Robert G. Mugabe International Airport (HRE) in Harare, Zimbabwe. Effective 28 March 2021, the airline will operate daily return flights to Harare. Bookings for the regional route have already opened. Flights will depart Johannesburg at 09:30 and arrive in Harare at 11:05, while the return flight will depart Harare at 11:45 and arrive in Johannesburg at 13:25.

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