Direct US-Cape flights a boon
The launch of United Airlines’ first-ever direct flights between New York and Cape Town in December has already led to an 11% increase in forward bookings by US tourists to the Mother City for the upcoming summer season.
Wesgro CEO Tim Harris revealed this during a briefing on the new route hosted by the US-based airline in Cape Town on Monday. Wesgro is the trade, investment and tourism promotion agency of the Western Cape, and played a key role in securing the route.
United Airlines’ inaugural flight to Cape Town International Airport will take off from Newark Liberty International Airport in New York on December 16. The airline will operate a seasonal service on the route between December and March, with three flights a week.
Harris said having the direct flights between the US financial capital and SA’s legislative capital was a major triumph.
“The US is a key tourism source market for Cape Town and the Western Cape, with about 200 000 American tourists coming here annually,” he noted.
“We have been targeting this route for years, so it is a significant development for Wesgro and our Cape Town Air Access initiative, which is a joint venture with the private sector to secure more international air routes for the city.”
Harris said the new route came at an opportune time, with the Western Cape coming out of one of its worst droughts, in addition to the decision by the department of home affairs to scrap unabridged birth certificates for foreign minors travelling to SA.
“Forward bookings to Cape Town are not only up from the US, but also 30% up from the UK and 20% up from Germany,” he added.
“This points to a bumper peak summer season from December to March. We are coming off a lower base following the drought but are now seeing an increase in forward bookings by foreign tourists. United Airlines’ new route to Cape Town will also boost trade.”
Bob Schumacher, United Airlines’ regional managing director of sales, said the new service would provide its business and leisure customers with a seamless and more convenient way to travel between SA and North America.
United Airlines plans to operate a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft on the route, with a seating capacity of 252 passengers. This will include 48 business class seats, 88 economy-plus seats and 116 economy class seats.
The non-stop flight will reduce the travelling time between New York and Cape Town by some four hours, according to Harris. He said the new route would represent United Airlines’ only direct international connection currently to the African continent.
General manager of Cape Town International Airport Deon Cloete said that Airports Company of SA (Acsa) was excited about the new direct international US route to Cape Town. Cloete added: “Cape Town International Airport has been experiencing double-digit growth in international passenger numbers between 2015 and 2018, due to our work together with Wesgro and other partners in the Cape Town Air Access initiative … This is part of the reason Acsa will be investing in a multibillion-rand expansion of the airport next year.”