Delta Air Lines submitted applications for approval from the U.S Department of Transportation to operate flights from its hub in Atlanta to Cape Town, South Africa, despite being rejected by the South African regulations.
South Africa will be the Delta’s second destination after Johannesburg in the round trip from Atlanta to Cape Town.
If approved, Delta will start their services from Atlanta – Cape Town on Nov. 18, and they will operate it three times per week. The planning for the Cape Town route to operate year-round.
Delta will use its flagship Airbus A350-900 aircraft 32 Delta One Suites, 48 seats in Delta Premium Select, 36 extra legroom Comfort+ seats and 190 economy seats for a long route.
Meanwhile, Delta Airlines added, “We always want to make our flight schedules and network around where our customers want to fly. We hope to receive approval to operate nonstop Delta service on this important route.”
Delta requested the U.S Department of Transportation to approve flights between Atlanta and Cape town for three times per week.
Delta is planning
to depart Atlanta at 8:45 PM and arrive at Cape Town in 6:45 PM the next day, all times local. The return flight will depart Cape Town at 9 PM and arrive in Atlanta at 6:25 AM the next day.
After one week of United Airlines announced they would begin their service for Cape Town from Newark (EWR), Delta applied.
After the Delta’s filing and United’s announcement, it is evident that U.S. airlines are banking on increased travel demand to South Africa, especially as South African Airways continues to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic without any overseas routes.
