Cape Town travellers are booking more trips to the United States this festive season, with new data showing a clear rise in outbound travel across the Atlantic.
United Airlines' passenger bookings from Cape Town to the US rose by 7% during the South African summer holiday travel season, covering December 18 to January 6, compared to the same period last year.
In response the airline increased service between Cape Town and New York/Newark, adding extra flights during the peak holiday window. For South Africans travelling to the US over the festive season, New York/Newark, Washington D.C. and Chicago are emerging as the most popular destinations on United’s network.
READ: United Ups Cape Town Flights
United first launched its Cape Town–Newark route in 2019, followed by a Cape Town–Washington D.C. service in 2022, strengthening direct air links between the Western Cape and North America.
The airline’s expansion in Cape Town forms part of a broader push across the continent. Since 2021, United has added routes to Johannesburg, Accra, Lagos, Dakar, and Marrakesh, giving it one of the largest African footprints among US carriers.
A record-breaking season
The Cape Town bump comes as United prepares for its busiest December–January travel period ever across its global network. The airline expects to fly around 10.3 million passengers between December 18 and January 6, averaging nearly 520,000 travellers and 4,700 flights per day.
The single busiest day is predicted to be Saturday, December 27, with roughly 560,000 passengers taking to the skies.
Globally, United’s most popular international destinations from the US this festive season include Cancun, London and Frankfurt, while Orlando, Las Vegas and Honolulu are topping domestic New Year’s Eve travel lists.
Ultimately, Cape Town is firmly on the US travel radar, and with more flights and fuller planes, that transatlantic allure shows no signs of cooling off.
READ: The 6 best international travel options for Capetonians in 2026
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