UNITED Airlines (UA) has applied to operate flights between Newark Liberty International Airport and Cape Town International Airport. UA plans to operate the non-stop threetimes weekly service to Cape Town starting in December. The direct flight will cut flight time by four hours. Currently, Cape Town passengers wishing to fly to New York must do so on an SAA-operated flight from Johannesburg. If approved, the service between Newark and Cape Town will be operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner featuring 48 seats in
business class, 88 seats in premium economy and 116 seats in economy.
The proposed flight schedule, beginning December 15, sees departure from Cape Town at 20h50 and arrival in New York/Newark at 05h45 the next day. Return flights will depart Newark at 20h30 and arrive in Cape Town at 18h00 the next day. In the South African
market, David Pegg, md of Sure Viva Travels, believes that the Johannesburg market would sustain a flight more than Cape Town, as there is a wider mix of leisure and corporate, but Robyn Daneel-Spicer, director of Sure Stellenbosch Travel, disagrees, telling TNW she has noticed a surge in companies moving headquarters to the Cape Town region and that this service would be advantageous for leisure and corporate travellers. Cape Town Air Access told TNW that a GSA has not been appointed yet as UA is awaiting approval from the US government.
