Now flying London-Cape Town: Virgin Atlantic resumes flights

Virgin Atlantic has officially resumed its flights between Cape Town International Airport and London’s Heathrow.

Virgin Atlantic returns to Cape Town

Back in May, Virgin Atlantic announced that they would be resuming their direct services between Cape Town and London, for the first time since 2015. Operations officially began this past Sunday, 6 November, making Virgin Atlantic flights to Cape Town available, once more, on a daily basis.

In February 2020, Virgin Atlantic had resumed a seasonal service between Cape Town and London, just a few weeks before the air travel industry was grounded because of COVID-19.

The resumption of the route will only be a seasonal one for now, running until the end of the peak tourist season and adding over 80 000 seats between the two hubs.

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Flight schedule

The seasonal service will operate as a night flight departing Heathrow at 16:20, with arrival in Cape Town at 06:00 the next morning. The return route will then depart at 08:00, arriving later that day in Cape Town at 17:45. 

The Cape Town flights will be operated on Virgin Atlantic’s Boeing 787-9 aircraft and offer customers a choice of seating in Upper Class, Premium and Economy Light, Classic and Delight cabins.

London to South Africa this summer season

The Mother City is heading towards a smashing summer season in terms of tourism, with more flights between London and Cape Town promising an influx of UK tourists.

Besides the resumed Virgin Atlantic flights, British Airways is set to start up its London-Gatwick to Cape Town route from 13 December 2022 until 25 March 2023, with three weekly flights on the Boeing 777-200.

BA will also double its frequency on the London-Heathrow route, introducing a second daily flight from 13 November until 25 March 2023 on an Airbus A350-1000.

READ MORE HERE: More flights from London to Cape Town this summer