Travellers heading to South Africa during the 2026/27 northern winter season will have even more options, as Virgin Atlantic has announced a major increase in capacity on its popular London–South Africa routes.
From October 2026 to March 2027, the British carrier will operate up to 10 weekly flights between Heathrow Airport (LHR) in London and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg, while also increasing frequencies to 11 weekly services into Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town.
As part of the expanded schedule, Virgin Atlantic’s existing daily Johannesburg service will be upgraded to the airline’s larger and more modern Airbus A350-1000 throughout the winter season, adding additional seats and enhanced onboard comfort for long-haul travellers.
The revised timetable is designed to improve convenience for both leisure and business passengers. Earlier morning arrivals into South Africa will allow visitors to make better use of their first travel day, while later evening departures from Johannesburg offer a smoother overnight connection back to London.
The increase in flights comes amid strong and sustained demand for travel between the United Kingdom and South Africa, particularly for safari holidays, Cape Town summer escapes, visiting friends and relatives, and corporate travel.
For South African tourism, the expanded schedule provides another welcome boost ahead of the peak summer season, improving international connectivity and offering travellers greater flexibility when planning trips to destinations such as the Kruger National Park, the Garden Route and the Cape Winelands.
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