South African Tourism (SAT) welcomed the launch of United Airlines new direct service between Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) on November 17, 2022. Operating three times weekly, United will be the first and only carrier to service the route between the United States capital and South Africa's Mother City.

The United flight will be operated via a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft featuring 48 lie-flat seats in United Polaris business class, 21 United Premium Plus seats and 188 seats in economy. Flights departing IAD will have an average flying time of 14h30m and leaving at 6:40pm and arrive in Cape Town at 4:10pm local time.   

“North America is South Africa's fastest growing overseas tourism market, so the new United Airlines route could not be better timed to continue attracting US travelers and offering easy connectivity between Washington DC and Cape Town,” said Jerry Mpufane, President of South African Tourism, North America. “Travelers want to go big now that they are getting back to doing what they love and what better way to do that than embarking on a South African journey. Cape Town has so much culture and diversity and we know once visitors experience it, they will want to come back and explore more of the destination.” 

Travelers arriving in Cape Town will soon realize they can experience city life and coastal activities in one destination. They can start the day exploring some the world's best art at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa and then head to the Cape Winelands to stroll or bike through the vineyards. For some adventure, a hike to the top of Table Mountain is sure to be memorable and if they desire to learn something news, they can take an immersive Bo-kapp Cooking Tour or taking a dip at Boulders Beach. 

For travelers looking to explore beyond the Mother City to discover the urban beat of Johannesburg, the year-round sunshine along Durban's Golden Mile, or the world-class safari and wildlife experiences of Mpumalanga or Limpopo, United's codeshare agreement with South Africa-based Airlink provides one stop connections from the U.S. to some other 45 destinations in Southern Africa.  

For further information on South African Tourism, visit www.southafrica.net.