United adds extra Cape Town–New York flight as holiday demand rises 7 percent

December 17, 2025 in Business, Companies, Travel & Tourism by Editor

United Airlines has increased capacity on its Cape Town routes after recording a 7pc rise in passenger bookings to the United States during South Africa’s peak summer holiday travel season.

The airline said demand between Cape Town and the U.S. has grown for the December 18 to January 6 period compared with the same window last year, prompting it to add an extra frequency on the Cape Town–New York/Newark route. During the holiday peak, United is operating four weekly flights between the two cities, up from three previously.

The capacity increase reflects sustained growth in long-haul leisure and visiting-friends-and-relatives travel between Southern Africa and North America. New York/Newark remains the most popular U.S. destination for travellers departing Cape Town on United’s network, followed by Washington D.C. and Chicago.

United launched its Cape Town–Newark service in 2019 and expanded its South African footprint in 2022 with the introduction of a Cape Town–Washington D.C. route. The airline has steadily built a broader African network since 2021, adding services to Johannesburg, Accra, Lagos, Dakar and Marrakesh as part of its strategy to connect Africa more directly to major U.S. hubs.

The seasonal uplift in Cape Town traffic comes as United prepares for its busiest December–January travel period on record across its global network. The airline expects to carry about 10.3 million passengers worldwide during the holiday season, averaging nearly 520,000 travellers and around 4,700 flights per day. The busiest day is forecast to fall shortly after Christmas, with approximately 560,000 passengers expected to fly on December 27.

From the U.S., United said international leisure demand remains strong, with Cancun, London and Frankfurt among the most popular overseas destinations this holiday season. Domestically, Orlando, Las Vegas and Honolulu are leading New Year’s Eve travel markets.

United’s expanded African operations underscore the strategic importance of long-haul connectivity between the continent and North America, particularly as tourism flows into South Africa continue to recover and diversify. For Cape Town, the added Newark frequency strengthens links to one of the world’s largest aviation hubs, offering onward connections across the U.S. and beyond.

The airline said it continues to rely heavily on its mobile app to manage peak-period travel, with most customers using digital tools for real-time flight updates, baggage tracking and rebooking during disruptions. United reported strong customer satisfaction scores during the recent Thanksgiving travel period, which it described as its busiest ever.