International airlines are taking to the skies, as three new international flight routes are set to launch in South Africa next month.
With South Africa’s domestic airline industry under immense pressure, international airlines are taking advantage of a boom in demand by launching at least FOUR new flight paths that will come into effect before the end of 2022.
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As reported by The South African website, South Africa’s four remaining domestic airlines are likely to remain under pressure for the next four to five months.
That’s according to FlySafair CEO Elmar Conradie who heads up one of the remaining quartet of airlines still in operation post-Covid.
Of South Africa’s eight domestic airlines that were in operation pre-Covid-19, only four remain: FlySafair, Lift, CemAir and Airlink.
The four other airlines – SA Express, Kulula, British Airways and Mango – have all been grounded or liquidated.
International airlines have also struggled, but, according to BusinessTech, some international carriers are finding opportunities in Mzansi.
ALSO READ | Even MORE flights from KLM airlines to Cape Town this year
FOUR NEW FLIGHT ROUTES
Qantas – Perth to Johannesburg – 1 November 2022
From 1 November, Qantas will operate the only direct service from Perth to South Africa, operating three return flights per week on its Airbus A330 aircraft.
The new flights will cut more than six hours from the fastest current travel time, with customers heading to Johannesburg from Perth currently having to fly on Qantas via Sydney, or via the Middle East.
United – Cape Town to Washington DC – 18 November 2022
United Airlines will fly a direct, non-stop service between Washington Dulles Airport and Cape Town International Airport.
Flights will operate three times a week, with the first take-off on 18 November.
One-way flights are from R10 679, with a round trip priced from R14 789.
Air Mauritius – Cape Town to Mauritius (overnight) – 16 November 2022
Air Mauritius is set to resume non-stop flights from Cape Town to Mauritius from 16 November this year.
The airline said it will offer two weekly flights leaving at night (22:05) from Cape Town and arriving in the early morning in Mauritius (05:10).
Air Mauritius currently offers flights from Johannesburg’s OR Tambo with a one-way economy class ticket costing around R5 500.
Delta – Cape Town to Atlanta, USA – 17 December 2022
Delta airlines announced a new nonstop route from Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport to Cape Town International Airport.
The new route between Atlanta and Cape Town will be available from 17 December.
By: Garrin Lambley
