Chicago-based United Airlines plans to launch a direct flight between New York and Cape Town from December this year, reducing travel time between the Mother City and the Big Apple by at least four hours.
United has applied to the US Department of Transportation for permission to launch the service and, if approved, it would be the first direct flight between the two cities in more than a decade.
United has applied to operate three direct flights per week from Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey to Cape Town International, using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
"Cape Town has been voted as one of the world's best travel destinations and we look forward to welcoming United Airlines to the Mother City," said Vanya Lessing, CEO of the Sure Travel group, which has more than 70 travel agencies throughout South Africa, as well as in Namibia and Botswana.
While the direct flight would be a boon for tourism to Cape Town, Lessing noted that it will also benefit South Africans travelling to the US. "In addition to significantly reducing travelling time to the US, United’s extensive route network will open up more than 80 US cities to South African travellers flying via New York. Sure Travel looks forward to being able to offer more US route and flight options to our clients."