Did someone say summer holiday? A whole one million long-haul airline seats will be available on flights into Cape Town ahead of the peak summer season (roughly November 2023 to March 2024), as South Africa’s ‘Mother City’ has seen a surge in international airline capacity.
Basically, this is solid proof of how many people want to go to Cape Town right now (and of the city’s ongoing recovery from the Covid pandemic), marking a 25 percent increase in available seats compared to the 2022/23 summer season. The boost is thanks to ongoing work by regional tourism organisations to grow air access to the city, with seven new airlines launching new routes over the past year.
Since September 2022, Cape Town has also seen three intercontinental airlines launch flights, with Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic connecting travellers with Atlanta and London. New direct services on Delta and United to Atlanta, New York and Washington have also seen a surge in American visitors, while the resumption of seasonal services by leisure-focused airlines Condor and Edelweiss are bringing in plenty of German travellers.
They’ll soon be jostling for a spot on Cape Town’s best beaches with travellers from Brazil, as this month marks the launch of a long-awaited direct route to South America. On October 31, South African Airways will launch a twice-weekly service connecting Cape Town to São Paulo, making it easier than ever for the growing number of visitors from South And Latin America to reach the city for its colourful markets, vibrant art galleries and cosmopolitan nightlife.
Regional airline Airlink has added direct flights from Maputo to Cape Town, with Mozambican carrier LAM - Mozambique Airlines following suit on October 15. With three weekly flights, it’s the first time the airline will touch down at Cape Town International Airport. The best news? More seats mean lower fares, so keep an eye on those deals.
Did you hear that Time Out Market Cape Town has revealed its opening date?