Fly direct to Cape Town: United Airlines expands U.S. routes this October!

Effective 29 October 2025, United Airlines will adjust its South Africa flight schedule to better meet growing demand for direct U.S.<> Cape Town travel. One of its daily Johannesburg <> Newark flights will be transferred to Cape Town, reducing the Johannesburg <> Newark service to six weekly flights.

The transferred frequency will boost Cape Town's connectivity, resulting in four weekly Cape Town <> Newark flights and three weekly Cape Town <> Washington, D.C. flights. This expansion provides U.S. travellers with more options for direct flights to the Western Cape, enhancing Cape Town's position as a premier tourist and business destination.

United’s seasonal adjustments reflect the airline’s strategy to expand its U.S.–South Africa network, catering to the increasing interest in South Africa's coastal cities and iconic destinations. Travellers can now conveniently access Cape Town while still maintaining robust connectivity to Johannesburg.

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USA: United Airlines and Delta Air Lines plan more flights to Cape Town for the IATA Winter 2025/26!

Good news for travellers from the U.S. planning a trip to South Africa! United Airlines and Delta Air Lines have both applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to increase their flights to Cape Town for the IATA Winter 2025/26 season. If approved, these changes will provide greater flexibility and more options for passengers flying between the U.S. and South Africa.

United Airlines aims to boost its service between Newark Liberty International Airpor (EWR), wihch is serving the New York metropolitan area, and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town from three to four weekly flights. To accommodate this change, the airline plans to reallocate one frequency from its existing route betweem Newark and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg, which would then operate six times per week instead of daily. Additionally, United has requested the flexibility to operate select Newark <> Johannesburg flights with a stop in Cape Town when necessary.

These adjustments align with seasonal demand and operational efficiency, allowing United to cater more effectively to passengers traveling to South Africa during the peak summer months.

Delta Air Lines is also making strategic adjustments to meet the growing demand for flights to Cape Town. The airline has applied to increase its route between Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta and Cape Town from three to five weekly flights between 26 October 2025 and 28 March 2026. This expansion will be made possible by reallocating two of Delta Air Lines’ seven weekly frequencies on its Atlanta <> Johannesburg route.

After the peak travel season ends, Delta Air Lines intends to revert to its daily Atlanta <> Johannesburg schedule. The additional Cape Town flights will be operated using state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 aircraft, ensuring a comfortable journey for passengers.

If these applications are approved by the DOT, travelers will benefit from:

• Increased flight availability between the U.S. and Cape Town
• Greater flexibility in scheduling trips
• More options for one-stop connectivity via Newark and Atlanta

Both United Airlines and Delta Air Lines' plans highlight the growing demand for travel to Cape Town, particularly during the southern hemisphere's summer season. These changes are set to enhance the overall travel experience for passengers flying between North America and South Africa.

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United Airlines expanded its New York/ Newark <> Cape Town route to a year-round, three times per week service!

United Airlines, one of the major American airlines, has officially expanded its service to Cape Town on 06 June 2022 with three non-stop flights per week, year-round, between Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in the New York metropolitan area and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town, following its decision to resume their direct flights between Newark/New York and the Mother City, ahead of the initial schedule. Flights are operated on board a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
The USA has historically been Cape Town's third largest international market, with two-way passenger volumes between the United States and Cape Town equalling 213 000 passengers in 2019.

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USA: United Airlines plans to expand service to Cape Town with year-round, non-stop flights from New York/Newark!

United Airlines, one of the major American airlines, has announced it plans to offer three non-stop flights a week, year-round, between Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in the New York metropolitan area and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town, subject to government approval. The new schedule is set to start on 05 June 2022. Flights will be operated on board a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Tickets are already available for sale.

United Airlines is the only airline to offer nonstop flights between the U.S. and Cape Town and offers more flights to South Africa than any other North American carrier. 

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United Airlines to resume flights to Cape Town!

United Airlines, one of the major American airlines, is set to return to Cape Town in South Africa. The airline is planing to resume nonstop flights between Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in the New York metropolitan area and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town on 01 December 2021.
United Airlines and South African privately-owned regional carrier Airlink recently signed a codeshare agreement that will offer one stop connections from the U.S. to 45 destinations in Southern Africa and East Africa, including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Lesotho, Eswatini, Tanzania, Uganda and the DR Congo.

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United Airlines sets a new date for the launch of flights between Newark <> Johannesburg! [update]

update (25 May 2021): United Airlines has announced that it will resume a seasonal service to Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town at the end of October 2021.

United Airlines, one of the major American airlines, has announced a new date for the launch of its service to Johannesburg in South Africa. According to a press release by the airline, daily flights between Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in the New York metropolitan area and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg will start on 03 June 2021 (subject to government approval). Further details will be provided in due course. According to a previous announcement, United Airlines is planning to resume flights to Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town in the Northern hemisphere winter travel season 2021. We'll keep you posted!

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Kenya: Kenya Airways has resumed flights to New York!

Kenya's flag carrier, Kenya Airways, is operating flights to the US again. The airline resumded weekly non-stop flights between Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York on 29 November 2020. Kenya Airways suspended passenger flights to New York on 27 March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. It was set to resume operations in October 2020 but put aside the plan over increased cancellation of flight bookings. Kenya Airways launched its inaugural flight to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York in October 2018. 

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South Africa: United Airlines is planning to return to South Africa! [update]

update (01 December 2020): United Airlines has changed plans and will not be operating flights to Cape Town in spring 2021 (March - May 2021). Instead the airline is planning to resume flights to Cape Town in the  Northern hemisphere winter travel season 2021. The new non-stop daily service between Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Johannesburg will be launched on 28 March 2021.

United Airlines, one of the major American airlines, is planning to launch daily nonstop flights between Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in the New York metropolitan area and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg in spring 2021 (March - May 2021). The new service, which will be the only roundtrip, nonstop service from the United States to Johannesburg by a U.S carrier, is currently subject to government approval. United Airlines is also planning to resume its seasonal, three-times-weekly service between Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town in spring 2021 (March - May 2021). 

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South African Airways expands codeshare with Air Seychelles to New York!

South Africa's flag carrier, South African Airways, and the national airline of the Republic of Seychelles, Air Seychelles, have expanded their codeshare agreement to cover flights to New York effective 01 November 2019. Under the agreement, Air Seychelles will place its "HM" code on South African Airways daily services between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York, providing travellers seamless connection on flights to and from the Seychelles. The codeshare agreement between the two airlines has been in existence since 2013.

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Ethiopian Airlines to launch a new service between Addis Ababa <> New York City!

Ethiopia's flag carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, will launch a new service between Bole International Airport (ADD) in Addis Ababa and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City via Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport (ABJ) in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Effective 17 June 2019, the airline will operate three weekly return flights to New York City's primary international airport. With the addition of the new service to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to the already operating 4 weekly service to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), which serves the New York City - Philadelphia Urban Area, via Lomé–Tokoin Airport (LFW) in Lomé (Togo), Ethiopian Airlines will operate to New York daily. 

• ET 0512 - Addis Ababa 09:00 > 12:15 Abidjan (Mon, Wed, Sat)
• ET 0512 - Abidjan 13:15 > 20:00 JFK - New York (Mon, Wed, Sat)
• ET 0513 - JFK - New York 22:00 > 1:05 Abidjan (Mon, Wed, Sat)
• ET 0513 - Abidjan 13:05 > 22:00 Addis Ababa (Tue, Thu, Sun)

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Kenya Airways to increase flights between Nairobi <> New York!

Kenya's flag carrier, Kenya Airways, is set to increase the number of nonstop flights between  Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York. From June 2019, the airline will operate seven weekly return flights instead of the current five weekly return flights to New York. In January 2019, Kenya Airways reduced the number of flights between the two destinations due to low demand from the seven to five a week.

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United Airlines to launch a nonstop service between New York <> Cape Town! [update]

update (03 May 2019): Tickets have gone on sale for United Airlines' new direct flights between Cape Town and New York City.

Major American airline United Airlines has applied with the U.S. Department of Transportation for authority to launch a nonstop seasonal service between Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), which serves the New York City - Philadelphia Urban Area, and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town. Effective 15 December 2019, the airline is planning to operate three weekly return flights to Cape Town on board a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft featuring 48 seats in business class, 88 seats in economy plus and 116 seats in economy.
The nonstop service, which will be the only nonstop service between the United States and Cape Town, will decrease the current travel time from New York City to the Mother City by more than four hours and provide customers from more than 80 U.S. cities with easy one-stop access to Cape Town.

• New York/New Ark 20:30 > 18:00+1 Cape Town
• Cape Town 20:50 > 05:45+1 New York/New Ark

Kenya Airways to reduce flights between Nairobi <> New York!

Kenya's flag carrier, Kenya Airways, will reduce the number of flights between Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York from the current seven to five a week effective 15 January 2019. The flights will be on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. According to a statement by Kenya Airways, the airline remains strongly committed to the New York route and will continue to offer non-stop services between Kenya and the USA. Kenya Airways launched its service between Nairobi and New York on 28 October 2018.

Kenya Airways to launch direct flights between Nairobi <> New York in October 2018!

Kenya's flag carrier, Kenya Airways, will launch daily direct flights between Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York in October 2018 on 28 October 2018. The airline will operate a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on the new route. Travellers will be able to start booking advanced tickets for Kenya Airways' inaugural US flight on 11 January 2018.

• Nairobi 10:25 > 06:25+1 New York
• New York 12:25 > 10:55+1 Nairobi

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Rwanda: Rwandair to launch flights to the USA in 2017!

Rwanda's national carrier, Rwandair, just confirmed on twitter that it is planning to introduce flights between Kigali International Airport (KGL) in Kigali and the USA in 2017. According to news reports in Rwanda, the airline will enter the US market with a route to New York. Rwandair also plans to acquire another Airbus A350 XWB wide-body plane for it's flights between Kigali and New York.

US flights are planned for 2017. @NewTimesRwanda @igihe https://t.co/3Eijssosr6

— RwandAir (@FlyRwandAir) November 8, 2016

Rwandair currently operates flights to 19 destinations and is planning to launch services to London-Gatwick in the UK (in 2017), Mumbai in India, Conakry in Guinea, Bamako in Mali, as well as to Dakar in Senegal, Harare in Zimbabwe, Lilongwe in Malawi and Durban in South Africa.

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Ethiopian Airlines adds fourth flight to New York-Newark!

Ethiopia's flag carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, is set to a add a fourth weekly flight between Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) in Addis Ababa and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in New York as of 05 August 2016. The airline commenced scheduled thrice weekly flights to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) from Addis Ababa on 03 July 2016, via Lomé–Tokoin Airport (LWR) in Lomé, Togo. 
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is Ethiopian Airlines' 4th gateway in the America's. The airline is currently operates daily nonstop flights from Washington DC to Addis Ababa, three weekly nonstop flights from Toronto to Addis Ababa as well as three weekly flights from Los Angeles to Addis Ababa via Dublin.

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Ethiopia: Ethiopian Airlines to launch flights to New York!

Ethiopia's flag carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, has announced plans to launch flights to New York City (USA) by the end of June 2016. Flights between Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) in Addis Ababa and  New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) will depart Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday mornings, and will return from New York to Addis Ababa the same evening.  Flights will make an intermediate stop in Lomé (Togo), home base for Ethiopian Airlines' partner ASKY Airlines, in both directions. Ethiopian Airlines will be deploying the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which is configured with 24 business class and 246 economy seats, all of which are equipped with on-demand video monitors featuring a variety of entertainment options.

• There will be connectivity beyond Addis Ababa to and from major economic and tourist destinations in East, Southern and Central Africa and the Middle East, including Nairobi (Kenya), Entebbe (Uganda), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Kigali (Rwanda), Khartoum (Sudan), Jeddah, and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia).
• There will be connectivity between New York and many cities in West Africa with Ethiopian Airlines' partner ASKY Airlines, via Lomé, including Lagos, Abidjan, Dakar, Libreville, Douala, N’djamena, Kinshasa, Bamako, Conakry, Ouagadougou, and Niamey.

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South African Airways resumes daily nonstop flights between Johannesburg & New York!

South Africa's flag carrier, South African Airways (SAA), is set to resume its daily nonstop flights between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York on 07 March 2015. The resumption of the nonstop service on the northbound flight between the two destinations will reduce the overall travel time on the route by nearly 90 minutes. While SAA's flight from New York to Johannesburg is operating daily on a nonstop year-round basis, the northbound flight has been temporarily making a one-hour refuelling stop in Dakar (Senegal) due in part to lower travel demand during the winter months. South African Airways' flights between New York and Johannesburg are operated on the state-of-the-art wide-body Airbus A340-600 aircraft, featuring 42 full-flat 180-degree beds in Premium Business Class and 275 seats in Economy Class.

• Johannesburg 08:30 > 06:40+1 New York
• New York 11:15 > 08:20+1 Johannesburg

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South African Airways to resume non-stop flights between Johannesburg & New York

South Africa's flag carrier, South African Airways (SAA), has announced that it is resuming its popular non-stop flights between Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport and JFK International Airport in New York. The non-stop flight will resume on 09 March 2014, nearly three weeks ahead of its original schedule of 28 March 2014. Due to - at least in part - lower travel demand during the winter months, SAA's Johannesburg > New York flight has been temporarily making a 1-hr refuelling stop in Dakar (Senegal), while the return flight from New York to Johannesburg has continued to operate on a non-stop daily basis.

The nonstop flight schedule is as follows (all times are local):

• Johannesburg (JNB) 08:25pm > New York (JFK) 6:40am (next day)
• New York (JFK) 11:15am > Johannesburg (JNB) 8:00am (next day)

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Turkish Airlines to introduce a third daily Istanbul <> New York flight

Good news for travellers looking for flights from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York in the US to Africa. Turkey's flag carrier, Turkish Airlines, will introduce a third daily Istanbul <> New York flight as from May 2012.
Effective from 28 May to 16 September 2012, the summer schedule will include three daily services for this period. The additional flights will be operated with Airbus 330-300 and Boeing 777 aircraft.
Via its main hub in Istanbul, Turkish Airlines is currently offering flights to Nairobi (Kenya,) Entebbe (Uganda), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), as well as to Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa.
Turkish Airlines operates scheduled international flights to 146 international and 41 domestic cities (38 domestic airports), serving a total of 187 airports, in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The airline's main base is at Atatürk International Airport in Istanbul.