Delta Air Lines has resumed its Atlanta-Johannesburg service, with the arrival of the first inbound flight in the late afternoon of Monday, August 2.

The service, which was first launched by Delta in December 2006, will initially operate three times weekly.

Inbound flights will depart Atlanta on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 19h00 and arrive in Johannesburg at 16h30 the following day.

Outbound flights will depart from Johannesburg at 22h55 on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, arriving in Atlanta at 09h15 the following day.

“We are proud of our airline’s 15-year history in South Africa and excited that Delta’s restart between Johannesburg and the US is with our flagship aircraft, offering customers an enhanced on-board experience wherever they sit,” said Amy Martin, Delta’s MD Network Planning.

The route will be operated by Delta’s A350-900neo, which, it says, is 25% more fuel efficient than the Boeing 777 it replaces, helping reduce carbon emissions on Delta’s longest route.

The aircraft is configured with four cabins.

• Delta One Suites. Described by one passenger as a hybrid between first-class and business-class product, with complete privacy, personalised service and a fully flat-bed seat with direct aisle access.
• Delta Premium Select. This is a separate cabin with more personal space, wider seats with more leg-room and recline, adjustable leg and head rests and an elevated on-board service, with specific meals served.
• Delta Comfort+.  Preferential seating at the front of the main cabin, with a little more leg-room and specific allocated overhead storage for carry-on items.
• Main Cabin. Economy class.

All seats have high-resolution in-seat entertainment screens and personal power ports for every customer, optional access to high-speed 2Ku Wi-Fi connectivity (paid), plus free mobile messaging – it is possible to send text messages (for example, over Watsapp or FB Messenger), but no pictures.

At meal service, all customers get a choice of entrée alongside an appetiser and dessert in addition to a full bar selection or soft drink. Delta One customers can pre-order their meal choice on flights between South Africa and the US (and can look forward to favourites such as Peri Peri chicken or grilled prawns with jasmine rice!)

Travellers on the flight from South Africa can connect to Los Angeles, Washington DC., Miami and New York-JFK, in time for lunch the next day.

Presently, there is no entry to the US, for South Africans for tourism purposes. Entry remains restricted to certain special visa categories and US citizens and permanent residents. Tourists from the US are welcome in South Africa.