Delta, United Revamp South Africa Routes
Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are seeking approval from the U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) to realign their South Africa operations, aiming to better match seasonal demand without increasing overall flight numbers. Both carriers are proposing to redistribute existing frequencies on their U.S.-South Africa routes, ensuring that they offer more direct services to popular destinations during peak travel periods.
Delta’s Seasonal Shift
Delta is requesting permission to adjust its Atlanta-based network by temporarily shifting two of its existing weekly frequencies from its daily Atlanta-Johannesburg service to its Atlanta-Cape Town route. If approved, this change would boost Delta’s Atlanta-Cape Town flights from three to five times per week during the northern winter season—from October 26, 2025, to March 28, 2026. The airline plans to operate these additional flights using its Airbus A350-900 aircraft, which are well-suited for long-haul routes. Once the peak season subsides, the extra frequencies would revert to the daily Atlanta-Johannesburg schedule. Delta’s proposal is designed to meet the higher demand for Cape Town during the southern hemisphere summer while maintaining robust service levels throughout South Africa.
United’s Network Adjustment
United Airlines is also looking to fine-tune its service between Newark and South Africa. Currently, United operates daily Newark-Johannesburg flights along with three weekly flights to Cape Town. The airline now wants to shift one of its Newark-Johannesburg flights to serve Cape Town year-round, which would increase its Newark-Cape Town frequency to four times per week, while reducing its Newark-Johannesburg flights to six per week. Additionally, United is exploring the option of operating some Newark-Johannesburg flights with a stop in Cape Town when conditions allow. This proposed Newark–Johannesburg–Cape Town–Newark routing would provide greater flexibility and allow United to offer more nonstop flights to Cape Town during periods of high demand, thus improving operational efficiency.
Market Trends and Passenger Demand
Both airlines stress that their proposals do not add extra flights between the U.S. and South Africa; rather, they are strategically redistributing existing frequencies to better serve passenger needs. According to Sabre Market Intelligence data, total two-way origin-destination traffic between the U.S. and South Africa reached approximately 836,400 passengers in 2024—a 6.8% increase year-on-year and a 6.9% rise compared to 2019 levels. Notably, the New York-Cape Town and Atlanta-Johannesburg city pairs have emerged as strong performers, highlighting the growing demand on these routes.
Looking Ahead
These adjustments by Delta and United come at a time when South Africa is experiencing a surge in air travel, driven by robust demand and shifting market dynamics. Both airlines are keen to leverage seasonal trends and operational efficiencies to remain competitive on this vital international corridor. The DOT has yet to issue a decision on the proposed changes, and industry observers will be watching closely as the carriers refine their network strategies to cater to evolving passenger preferences.
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