United Airlines to begin flights to Cape Town

Excitement for United Airlines’ forthcoming seasonal non-stop service to Cape Town is running high with the inaugural flight heavily booked four weeks before it touches down on December 16, says United’s Regional Managing Director Sales, Bob Schumacher.

Addressing a media briefing in Cape Town, he said forward bookings were looking ”very strong”. “This flight has been embraced. This is an extremely exciting opportunity for us.”

This is United’s first foray into South Africa and the first ever non-stop service between Cape Town and Newark International Airport. We are happy because Cape Town is the perfect combination of experiences with Botswana and also an easy access point for flights to Maun and Victoria Falls.

The CPT service will operate thrice weekly until the end of May. UA1122 will leave Newark on Sundays, Wednesday and Fridays at 20h30, arriving in Cape Town at 18h00. UA1123 will return at 20h50 from CPT Mondays, Thursday and Saturdays to arrive in Newark 05H45.

United will fly a Boeing 787-9 “Dreamliner” with 48 seats in Polaris Business Class, 88 seats in Economy Plus (offering 15cm more legroom) and 116 seats in Economy Class. The service will improve the current journey time by more than four hours.