United Airlines Clarifies South Africa Routes Amid Miscommunication on Expansion
United Airlines has clarified that it is not expanding its South African routes, following claims by Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille that the carrier was increasing services between the U.S. and South Africa. The airline confirmed to BusinessTech that it has not added any new flights but will temporarily adjust its existing schedule during the 2025/26 high season—shifting one New York–Johannesburg flight to the Cape Town–New York route. This seasonal adjustment will result in Cape Town receiving four weekly flights, up from three, while Johannesburg service will reduce to six flights per week.
United’s direct routes between Cape Town and Washington Dulles (launched in 2022), Cape Town and Newark (since 2019), and Johannesburg and Newark (since 2021) remain unchanged in number overall. Despite the scheduling update, South Africa continues to register strong visitor numbers from the U.S., with more than 430,000 arrivals in 2023, a 37.4% increase from 2022. U.S. tourists remain among the country’s top spenders, particularly in Cape Town and Johannesburg, underscoring the strategic value of air connectivity in driving tourism growth.
Source: Business Tech
