UAL to Launch New Non-Stop Service to Africa
UAL’s new nonstop service between New York and Cape Town will save customers nearly eight hours of travel time roundtrip
South Africa is now on the map for a U.S. carrier as United Airlines prepares to launch nonstop service between Newark, New Jersey and Cape Town, South Africa in December. The announcement came Monday as the carrier put in its application with the Department of Transportation for authority to begin new service between New York/Newark Liberty International Airport and Cape Town International Airport. In fact, United plans to operate nonstop three-times weekly flights to Cape Town starting in December 2019.
“We are always looking at ways to expand our international route network to offer our customers more convenient options,” said Patrick Quayle, United’s vice president of International Network. “This new flight will provide customers with the only nonstop service between the United States and Cape Town.”
United’s nonstop service between New York/Newark and Cape Town will decrease the current travel time from New York to Cape Town by more than four hours each way with easy one-stop access to Africa. If approved, United’s service between New York/Newark and Cape Town will be operated with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft featuring 48 seats in United Polaris business class, 88 seats in United Economy Plus and 116 seats in United Economy. The initial flight schedule will have the nearly 16-hour flight from New York/Newark to Cape Town leaving at 8:30 pm and arriving in Cape Town at 6 pm the day after. The flight from Cape Town leaves at 8:50 pm and arrives Newark at 5:45 am.
Cape Town is the oldest city in South Africa and the country’s center of trade and commerce. Located at the shore of Table Bay, the city is home to some of the most popular attractions in South Africa including Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. Travelers to South Africa often begin their African journey in Cape Town before touring the Cape Winelands, viewing the African penguins at Boulder Beach or traveling beyond Cape Town to explore South Africa’s natural beauty including its many national parks, game reserves and beautiful coastlines and beaches of the KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape provinces.
