In the five years since United Airlines introduced the first direct flight between New York and Cape Town, 1 500 flights have taken off, carrying over 300 000 passengers. In addition to fuelling tourist growth from this market, the route has also carried thousands of tonnes of cargo.

Since the launch as a seasonal flight in 2019 and the only non-stop service between New York and Cape Town at the time, United has expanded its presence in South Africa over the past five years. The route first expanded to a year-round service in 2021. A Johannesburg-Newark route followed in the same year. In 2022, the airline added its Cape Town-Washington DC route.

United now operates three times weekly between Cape Town and Newark and Cape Town and Washington DC. Over the past five years, 1 500 flights have operated on these routes, carrying 345 000 passengers and 2 000 tonnes of cargo.

Wrenelle Stander, CEO of Wesgro, said: “As the first US airline to operate direct flights to Cape Town, United Airlines has catalysed tourism and trade between the Western Cape and North America.”

She noted “remarkable growth” in North American passenger numbers with two-way traffic increasing by 57% between 2022 and 2023.

Once the Western Cape’s biggest unserved market, there are now multiple direct routes to the United States. Delta Airlines launched its Cape Town-Atlanta route in 2022.

"United’s flights have helped to put Cape Town on the map in the US market and we have seen a steady rise in the number of visitors we are welcoming to the region,” said Shaheed Regal, Acting Regional General Manager: Cape Town International Airport Cluster, Airports Company South Africa.

Amit Badiani, Head of Africa and Offline Sales for United Airlines, said: “We are proud to mark the fifth anniversary of our Cape Town to New York/Newark service. As well as providing a convenient connection to the US for travellers from the Western Cape, our popular service allows US travellers to easily reach Cape Town, which is consistently ranked among the world’s top travel destinations.”

James Vos, City of Cape Town's Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, said: “Aviation is critical to Cape Town’s economy – every 100 international arrivals create two jobs. That’s why we must continue working hard to keep these aeroplanes in the skies above us – filled with passengers who spend in our local economy and cargo that strengthens our trade connections. These routes are not just flights; they are lifelines for economic growth and opportunity.”

United Airlines currently also operates flights from Accra, Ghana, and Lagos, Nigeria, as well as Marrakesh, Morocco. It is set to expand its African network with the addition of a Dakar, Senegal, route from May 2025.