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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USA: Delta Air Lines to launch its South Africa triangle route in December 2022!

Major US airline Delta Air Lines has announced the launch date of its seasonal triangular route between Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta in Georgia and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town via OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg. The airline will introduce the new four-weekly service from 02 December 2022. The route will offer international travel only – customers will not be able to travel domestically from Johannesburg to Cape Town.

The seasonal “triangle” route will operate as follows:

• Atlanta 18:00 > 16:05 Johannesburg on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays
• Johannesburg 18:20 > 20:35 Cape Town on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
• Cape Town 22:50 > 08:00 Atlanta on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays

Delta Air Lines' new seasonal triangular route will complement the airline's nonstop service from both Cape Town and Johannesburg to Atlanta and will mean both cities will have daily operations to the US by the end of this year. The Cape Town <> Atlanta, non-stop, thrice-weekly route will commence on 17 December 2022.

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USA: Delta Air Lines to introduce flights between Atlanta <> Cape Town!

Major US-American airline Delta Air Lines is set to launch new route to Cape Town in South Africa. The airline will operate a three weekly nonstop service on board an Airbus A350-900 between Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town. Delta Air Lines is planning to commence operations on 17 December 2022. Operation of this route is subject to final government approval.
With the addition of service to Cape Town from Atlanta, Delta Air Lies will expand on its leading position serving Africa, providing 10 times weekly service to South Africa specifically, via Cape Town and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg.

• Atlanta 20:50 > 18:15+1 Cape Town on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays
• Cape Town 22:50 > 08:00+1 Atlanta on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays

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USA: Delta Air Lines finally gets approval for South Africa triangle route!

Major US airline Delta Air Lines's application to fly a triangular route between Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta in Georgia and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town via OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg has finally been approved by the South African government. The airline has tried for nearly two years to win approval from the South African government to operate this routing. According to news reports, Delta Air Lines is now planning to launch the triangular route Atlanta > Johannesburg > Cape Town > Atlanta later in 2022 to offer its customers more choice of travel between the U.S. and South Africa. We'll keep you posted!

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USA: Delta Air Lines to launch nonstop flights between Atlanta <> Cape Town!

According to Wesgro, the official Tourism, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency for Cape Town & the Western Cape, major US airline Delta Air Lines is planning to launch a year-round three times weekly nonstop service between Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town. The airline is planning to commence operations on 18 November 2022. The round trip from Atlanta to Cape Town will be the airline’s second destination in South Africa, after Johannesburg, which it already serves from Atlanta.
In addition, Delta Air Lines is still seeking South African government approval for the triangle route Atlanta > Johannesburg > Cape Town > Atlanta, after failing to win the approval of the South African government in 2020 and 2021. We'll keep you posted!

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USA: Delta Air Lines to increase flights to South Africa!

Major US airline Delta Air Lines is planning to expand its services to South Africa. According to news reports, the airline is set to increase flight frequencies between Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg from the current three weekly flights to five weekly flights from 19 December 2021. Flights to Johannesburg will then be operated on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, while the return flights back to Atlanta will be on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

• Atlanta 18:05 > 16:30+1 Johannesburg
• Johannesburg 22:55 > 08:15+1 Atlanta

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USA: Delta Air Lines to resume flights to South Africa in August 2021! [update]

update (24 June 2021): According to news reports, the South African Government blocked Delta Air Lines from including Cape Town in its route. Read more.

Major US airline Delta Air Lines is planning to return to South Africa in August 2021. However, the airline has changed its initial plans and will not operate a triangular route (Atlanta > Johannesburg > Cape Town > Atlanta). Instead Delta Air Lines will launch a direct service between Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg on 01 August 2021. Between 01 August 2021 and 08 September 2021 the airline will run three weekly return flights to Johannesburg. From 08 September 2021 Delta Air Lines is planning to increase the service to daily flights.

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USA: Delta Airlines to launch a new service between Atlanta <> Cape Town! [update]

update (08 December 2020): Delta Air Lines has again postponed the launch of its new new year-round non-stop service between Atlanta and Cape Town to 28 March 2021.

update (02 November 2020): Delta Air Lines has postponed the launch of its new new year-round non-stop service between Atlanta and Cape Town to 09 January 2021.

update (05 October 2020): Delta Air Lines has postponed the launch of its new new year-round non-stop service between Atlanta and Cape Town to 14 December 2020. 

Major US airline Delta Airlines is planning to start a new year-round non-stop service between Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta in Georgia, USA, and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town. On the USA > South Africa leg, the flight will stop at OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg before continuing to Cape Town. The new route is subject to government approvals, but the airlines hopes to launch flights from 24 October 2020. Delta Airlines will use its flagship Airbus A350-900 on the route, one of the newest and most fuel-efficient aircraft in its fleet. The new routing to Cape Town via Johannesburg replaces Delta's direct service between Atlanta and Johannesburg.

• Atlanta 17:45 > 15:45 Johannesburg (next day)
• Johannesburg 17:15 > 19:30 Cape Town
• Cape Town 21:30 > 06:45 Atlanta (next day)

Under alert level three of South Africa's risk-adjusted strategy to manage the spread of COVID-19, only limited domestic flights for business travel have been allowed. International air travel is currently not permitted. While South Africa's Government currently foresees that international commercial flights will only be able to resume in early 2021, the local aviation industry and the tourism industry have been lobbying for flight restrictions to be eased earlier. 

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Coronavirus pandemic: Delta to suspend flights between Atlanta <> Johannesburg!

Delta Air Lines, one of the major airlines of the United States, will suspend its service between Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg due to the coronavirus pandemic. The airline will suspend the service after 22 March 2020. The last flight from Altanta to Johannesburg will operate on 22 March 2020, while the last flight from Johannesburg to Atlanta departs on 23 March 2020.

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Kulula & Delta Air Lines have signed an interline agreement!

South African low-cost airline Kulula and major American airline Delta Air Lines have signed an interline agreement*. Under the agreement, travellers flying on Delta Air Lines' nonstop route between Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta, USA, and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg will benefit from kulula-operated flights within South Africa. Routes included in the new interline agreement are Johannesburg <> Cape Town, Johannesburg <> Durban, Johannesburg <> East London and Johannesburg <> George.
 
*An interline agreement allows passengers to change from one flight on one airline to another flight on another airline without having to gather their bags or check-in again. 

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Delta to stop Cape Town - Atlanta service

US airline Delta Air Lines has confirmed that it will stop the Cape Town - Atlanta (via Dakar) connection from the 28 August/29 August 2009. All passengers who are already booked on an affected flights will be re-accommodated. The suspension does not affect the daily year-round connection between Johannesburg and Atlanta. [src.]

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