United Airlines’ Washington Dulles-Cape Town flight is expected to contribute an estimated R523 million (€30.7m) in direct tourism spend in the airline’s first year of operation.

So said City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, James Vos, in his speech welcoming the first flight to Cape Town on Friday (November 18).

“The landing of this flight from Washington signifies our destination strength and the success of the City’s mission to connect with more source markets through the Air Access initiative, clever campaigns, and city-to-city agreements. My team and I will continue to work on such projects that ensure more travel and trade to the Cape.

“This includes our efforts to lobby National Government to liberalise measures for a more open air transport market. Where implemented, it has resulted in an increased utilisation of airspace, more competitive fares and more choices for travellers,” said Vos.

Nomasonto Ndlovu, Chief Operating Officer at South African Tourism, said the Washington Dulles-Cape Town route was anticipated to give a major boost to the Western Cape economic engine.

“The United States is a key source market for South Africa. We know that visitors from this market want to come to experience our history and culture, our wildlife and safari and, of course, our beautiful wide-open spaces. South Africa is ready to deliver all of this and much more.”

Wesgro CEO and the official spokesperson for Cape Town Air Access, Wrenelle Stander, said: “The addition of United’s Washington Dulles-Cape Town service alongside its existing Newark-Cape Town route will enable the continued expansion of economic opportunities for Cape Town and the Western Cape.”

Key statistics

Vos pointed out that the US was SA’s largest source market in 2021, noting that arrivals from the country had, to date, reached almost 60% of pre-COVID levels, thus outpacing the recovery of all SA’s other key source markets.

On a provincial level, the US has historically been Cape Town’s third-largest international market, with two-way passenger volumes between the United States and Cape Town reaching 213 000 passengers in 2019.

For the first quarter of this year, two-way passenger volumes between the US and Cape Town exceeded 27 000, representing a 51% recovery rate compared with the same quarter in 2019. Based on previous route introductions, it is estimated that this new direct service will result in a passenger stimulus of at least 25% for Cape Town.

Western Cape Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger, said: “Tourism is a major contributor to the Western Cape, supporting almost 175 000 jobs and generating roughly R15.5 billion (€869m) in gross value added to the economy in 2019.

“This is why we are so excited to welcome United Airlines’ direct flights from New York. Further benefits from the additional direct route to the US includes easier access for business travel, which can boost investment into the province, and with 191 international flights coming into Cape Town each week from January 2023, we are well on our way to move from recovery to growth in this sector.”

Six nonstop flights

Patrick Quayle, United’s Senior Vice President Global Network Planning and Alliances, said: “As the largest airline between the US and South Africa, we are proud to link our countries’ diplomatic and legislative centres and look forward to benefiting the thriving travel and tourism industries.”

United’s new three times weekly flight to Cape Town is the first-ever nonstop service between Washington DC and South Africa’s legislative capital. The new route joins United’s existing nonstop three times weekly service from Cape Town to New York/Newark, providing a nonstop six-times weekly service from Cape Town to the US, as well as a daily service from Johannesburg to New York/Newark.

United’s partnership with South Africa-based independent regional airline, Airlink, provides additional travel options for customers travelling from the southern tip of Africa connecting on to United’s nonstop long-haul services to the US.

The Cape Town (CPT) to Washington/Dulles (IAD) schedule is as follows:

United’s new service from Cape Town to Washington Dulles is operated with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.