Apr 15, 2019, 2:02 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
]United Airlines Preparing New Nonstop Seasonal Service Between New York/Newark and Cape Town, South Africa
United's new nonstop service will save customers nearly eight hours of travel time roundtrip between New York and Cape Town
CHICAGO, April 15, 2019
United Airlines today applied with the U.S. Department of Transportation for authority to begin new service between New York/Newark Liberty International Airport and Cape Town International Airport. 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 industry-leading international route network to offer our customers more convenient options. We're thrilled to announce the addition of Africa to our global route offering," 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 and provide customers from more than 80 U.S. cities with easy one-stop access to Cape Town. 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.
United's new nonstop service will save customers nearly eight hours of travel time roundtrip between New York and Cape Town
CHICAGO, April 15, 2019
United Airlines today applied with the U.S. Department of Transportation for authority to begin new service between New York/Newark Liberty International Airport and Cape Town International Airport. 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 industry-leading international route network to offer our customers more convenient options. We're thrilled to announce the addition of Africa to our global route offering," 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 and provide customers from more than 80 U.S. cities with easy one-stop access to Cape Town. 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.
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.
26 April 2019
Update: APPROVED ^
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...flight-457638/
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...flight-457638/
Best Routing for UA flyer (Paid/Miles) to South Africa (JNB, CPT, ...)[Consolidated]
UA to launch Seasonal EWR-CPT - 3x Weekly year-round starting 5 June 2022
Apr 17, 2019, 1:54 pm
#106
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: United Premier 1K 1MM; AA Plat Pro; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Platinum; Avis President's Club
Posts: 2,528
Apr 17, 2019, 2:05 pm
#107
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Kansas City, MO
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 3,646
Chris, I am planning the exact same driving safari trip as you for later in the year 2020. I looked at routing and it was all through JNB to WDH on SA. I sure would like to spend some time in Capetown again. We did 5 days there in 2013 at the end of a Botswana & Kruger safari. Fab city with the best restaurant food I have ever had.
Apr 17, 2019, 2:26 pm
#108
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,415
Is there an added hurdle given this is winter season, when there is generally less demand on United's fleet? To go year round won't UA have to reduce (or not increase as much) summer capacity to, e.g., Europe?
Apr 17, 2019, 2:49 pm
#109
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriott Platinum Elite, National Executive, United Gold
Posts: 1,181
UA has 13 787-9s that will be delivered from 2020 onwards. Even then, I think UA has optimized the current 787-9 fleet by reducing Australia frequencies and starting European seasonal flying during the northern hemisphere summer.
Apr 17, 2019, 3:13 pm
#110
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,731
What does "subject to government approval" mean?
Apr 17, 2019, 3:34 pm
#111
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 1,153
Chris, I am planning the exact same driving safari trip as you for later in the year 2020. I looked at routing and it was all through JNB to WDH on SA. I sure would like to spend some time in Capetown again. We did 5 days there in 2013 at the end of a Botswana & Kruger safari. Fab city with the best restaurant food I have ever had.
Apr 18, 2019, 10:50 pm
#113
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Aurora, CO
Programs: Statusless and proud
Posts: 7,582
Chris, I am planning the exact same driving safari trip as you for later in the year 2020. I looked at routing and it was all through JNB to WDH on SA. I sure would like to spend some time in Capetown again. We did 5 days there in 2013 at the end of a Botswana & Kruger safari. Fab city with the best restaurant food I have ever had.
Chris
Apr 19, 2019, 1:07 am
#114
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Delaware
Programs: UA Mileage Plus, Amtrak Guest Rewards
Posts: 1,392
Taking this back to the EWR-JNB route discussion, an idea is to do a triangle route EWR-JNB-CPT-EWR, or even EWR-CPT-JNB-CPT-EWR, the way the old SFO-SYD-MEL trip was done. This would probably end up turning into a daily route and thus both cities would gain daily service.
Apr 19, 2019, 10:05 am
#115
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,855
Taking this back to the EWR-JNB route discussion, an idea is to do a triangle route EWR-JNB-CPT-EWR, or even EWR-CPT-JNB-CPT-EWR, the way the old SFO-SYD-MEL trip was done. This would probably end up turning into a daily route and thus both cities would gain daily service.
Apr 19, 2019, 10:15 am
#116
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,337
These sorts of triangle routes are less popular these days. Premium business class travelers don't want to add 4 hours to their journey that they don't have to when there are other nonstop options. The time savings to get to Cape Town largely evaporate if a stop in JNB is added.
It wouldn't add 4 hours to the journey; more like 1 1/2, in one direction only, as passengers wouldn't be allowed to disembark at the intermediate point.
Apr 19, 2019, 10:27 am
#117
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,439
Taking this back to the EWR-JNB route discussion, an idea is to do a triangle route EWR-JNB-CPT-EWR, or even EWR-CPT-JNB-CPT-EWR, the way the old SFO-SYD-MEL trip was done. This would probably end up turning into a daily route and thus both cities would gain daily service.
I'm not convinced that JNB-EWR is out of the question with the 789, but it's a riskier proposition for United.
Apr 19, 2019, 3:18 pm
#118
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: DEN
Programs: UA GS, Marriott Gold
Posts: 174
These sorts of triangle routes are less popular these days. Premium business class travelers don't want to add 4 hours to their journey that they don't have to when there are other nonstop options. The time savings to get to Cape Town largely evaporate if a stop in JNB is added.
When this gets going, for DEN based flyers it will be interesting to weigh DEN-FRA-JNB vs. DEN-EWR-CPT-JNB, even if the last bit is on SAA. With UA soon to be flying DEN-FRA, I'm leaning towards the first part, even with some poor FRA timing.
I head back to the USA from JNB next Wednesday, and I like the routing as it is. JNB-FRA-ORD-DEN. The early UA FRA-ORD flight really cuts down on the waiting.
Apr 26, 2019, 7:51 am
#119
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: UA1K MM, JL JMB SAPPHIRE, Marriott Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,267
Update: APPROVED ^
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...flight-457638/
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...flight-457638/
Apr 26, 2019, 9:58 am
#120
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Kansas City, MO
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 3,646
Would there be a way to add a flight CPT-WDH as an excursionist perk on award tickets and get a stopover in Capetown? I am planning to visit Namibia next year and would like to also spend a few days in Capetown either before or after the Namibia safari. I have never been able to figure out how to book an excursionist perk as part of an award itinerary.
