Cape Town Air Access (CTAA) welcomes the announcement by United Airlines that they intend to launch a new non-stop route between the US and Cape Town, from Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey starting in December.
Conveniently located right outside of Manhattan and ranked the 6th busiest international airport in the US, Newark International Airport provides fast and simplified access to the cultural and business center that is New York City. The flight service will be operated with a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, providing seats for 252 passengers.
According to Tim Harris, Wesgro CEO, the United Airlines launch is, “A game-changer for our region. North America was one of the largest unserved markets for Cape Town and the Western Cape, with the USA ranked as the 3rd largest market for inbound passengers to Cape Town International Airport in 2017.”
The Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town, Dan Plato, also celebrated this major announcement. “Cape Town is a world-class city and home to an award-winning airport in Cape Town International Airport. I want to thank our Air access team who have worked hard to bring this flight to Cape Town. This direct flight positions our beautiful city as an attractive point of entry into Africa and allows us to showcase all that the city has to offer as we welcome visitors from the United States, both new and old. On behalf of the City of Cape Town, I thank United Airlines for the confidence they have shown in our city.”
Sthembiso Dlamini, Acting CEO of South African Tourism, added, “Arrivals from the United States to South Africa have shown consistent growth year-on-year, solidifying its position as a key market, not only for the Western Cape, but for South Africa as a whole. South Africa saw close to 450,000 arrivals from North America in 2018 with the region representing 4% of total international travelers travelling to South Africa. Adding a direct connection to Cape Town will improve connectivity to the region and allow visitors to experience South Africa from a new viewpoint.”
Cape Town Air Access is a partnership between the City of Cape Town, Western Cape Government, Wesgro, Cape Town Tourism, South African Tourism, Airports Company South Africa and private sector partners. To date, the CTAA initiative has helped land 8 new international airlines, 13 new direct routes and 19 route expansions, resulting in more than 1.5 million two-way seats being added into Cape Town International, boosting the local economy by R6 billion.
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