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The most exciting new route launch of the year is almost ready for take-off. In one month LATAM Airlines will launch its new direct service between Cape Town and São Paulo, creating a non-stop link between the Mother City and Brazil.
The new route is scheduled to launch on 2 July 2026 (moved forward from the initial launch date of September 2026), with three weekly flights between Cape Town International Airport and São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport.
For travellers heading east, flight LA8060 will depart from São Paulo at 10.45pm on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, landing in Cape Town at 10.55am the following morning.
In the other direction, flight LA8061 will depart from Cape Town at 3.50pm on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, arriving in São Paulo at 8pm.
The service will be operated using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, with 30 seats in business class and 270 in economy class. Launch fares for a standard fare in Ecoomy class (including baggage) start at around R16 000 return.
The new route is a major boost for Cape Town’s long-haul network, and a particularly useful one for travellers keen to explore South America without routing via Johannesburg, Luanda, Europe or the Middle East. São Paulo is not only Brazil’s biggest city, but also the main hub for LATAM, opening up easy onward connections across Brazil and South and Central America.
But there are also a few good reasons to use São Paulo as more than just a stopover. Formula 1 returns to Interlagos for the São Paulo Grand Prix from 6-8 November 2026, creating one of the city’s biggest sporting weekends of the year, while SP-Arte Rotas brings a contemporary art focus to the city from 26-30 August. Add in São Paulo’s blockbuster food scene and world-class museums, and you’ll definitely want a few days to explore the city.
Cape Town connectivity flying high
The new route is a highlight of what is shaping up to be a busy year for Cape Town’s air links.
Just two days before LATAM lands, Emirates is set to add a third daily Dubai - Cape Town service from 1 July 2026, operated by the airline’s next-generation Airbus A350. As Middle Eastern airspace returns to normal, Qatar Airways will also increase its Doha - Cape Town service from seven to up to 10 flights per week from 16 June 2026.
Ethiopian Airlines recently increased flights between Addis Ababa and Cape Town to twice daily, and Airlink will launch the first-ever non-stop Cape Town–Zanzibar service in October 2026!
That’s all good news for travellers heading out, but it’s especially welcome for Cape Town’s tourism industry. Brazil is one of South America’s largest outbound travel markets, and a direct flight makes the Western Cape a far easier sell to Brazilian travellers seeking safari, wine and coastal holidays in South Africa.
The countdown is on… plane-spotters can fire up FlightRadar and mark their calendars for 3 July, when the LATAM plane will land in the Mother City. One of South America’s most exciting cities is about to get a whole lot closer!
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