American air line, Delta Air Lines, plans to operate a non-stop direct service between its Atlanta hub and Cape Town International Airport.
Thursday, 17 February, saw Delta Air Lines apply to the US Department of Transport for the rights to run a non-stop direct service to Cape Town. Should their request be approved, the airline plans to operate year-round with three flights a week using a 306-seat Airbus A350-900 aircraft, which would commence from 18 November.
Travel News reports that an official docket served to the US Department of Transport reads:
“Granting Delta the requested frequencies is clearly in the public interest. Delta’s proposed service will allow Delta to re-start services to Cape Town, which it last served in 2009. In contrast to Delta’s prior Cape Town service, which operated via Dakar, Senegal, Delta’s new service would give Delta’s customers non-stop access to Cape Town.”
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The intended flight schedule would depart the Delta hub at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport at 20:45 and arrive in Cape Town at 18:45 the next day. The return flight will then depart Cape Town at 21:00 and arrive in Atlanta at 06:25 the following day. The specific days on which these flights will depart each week has not yet been determined or announced.
Delta is also asking that the non-stop service have seasonal flexibility, having peak and off-peak periods in mind.
Jimmy Eichelgruen, Delta’s Director of Sales for Africa, Middle East and India said:
“We are seeing positive demand for these flights, showing the popularity of travel between South Africa and the US. We hope to receive approval to operate a non-stop Delta service on this important route.”
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