United Airlines announced tickets are now available for purchase on united.com for the first-ever nonstop service by a U.S. carrier between New York/Newark and Cape Town. United will begin three-times weekly nonstop service on Dec. 15, 2019, subject to government approval.
“Our new service between New York and Cape Town will enable our business and leisure customers to choose a more convenient and seamless way to travel between the United States and South Africa,” said Jake Cefolia, United's senior vice president of Worldwide Sales. “We look forward to offering our customers easier access to South Africa's growing tourism industry and enabling business opportunities between the United States and the Western Cape's technology sector.”
United's service between New York/Newark and Cape Town will decrease the current travel time from New York to Cape Town by more than four hours and provide customers from more than 80 U.S. cities with easy, one-stop access to Cape Town.
“The United States is one of the Western Cape's key tourism markets and United's new service will significantly contribute towards growing our tourism sector as we welcome new visitors,” said Western Cape Provincial Minister of Economic Opportunities Beverley Schäfer. “The Western Cape is a global hub for technology and finance and United Airlines will enable new economic opportunities for Cape Town and New York.”
United will operate its service between New York/Newark and Cape Town with a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft featuring 48 seats in United Polaris business class, 88 seats in Economy Plus and 116 seats in United Economy.
| New York/Newark to Cape Town Schedule | |||||
| Flight # | From | To | Days | Depart | Arrive |
| UA 1122 | New York/Newark | Cape Town | Sun., Weds., Fri. | 8:30 p.m. | 6:00 p.m. +1 |
| UA 1123 | Cape Town | New York/Newark | Mon., Thurs., Sat. | 8:50 p.m. | 5:45 a.m. +1 |
The Western Cape's center of innovation and technology, Cape Town is also home to some of the most popular attractions in South Africa, including Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. Travelers to South Africaoften begin their African journeys in Cape Town before touring the Cape Winelands, viewing the African penguins at Boulder Beach or traveling beyond Cape Town to explore South Africa's natural beauty, including its many national parks, game reserves and beautiful coastlines and beaches of the KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape provinces.
United's service to Cape Town marks the company's 22nd new international route announced in the last two years, including nonstop service between the United States and Prague; Tahiti, French Polynesia; Naples, Italy; Porto, Portugal; and Reykjavik, Iceland.Booking travel to Cape Town is also an opportunity for United MileagePlus members to enjoy the benefits and perks of their membership. MileagePlus Premier and eligible United MileagePlus Chase cardmembers can book Everyday Awards on flights operated by United and United Express. If a seat is available, eligible members have unrestricted access to book an Everyday Award, even if it is the last seat on the plane. Tickets are available to purchase on united.com.
