United Airlines Denies Expanding South Africa Flights, Says It’s Just a Route Shuffle

South Africans hoping for more direct flights to the United States may be disappointed, as United Airlines has poured cold water on claims by Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille about expanded flight offerings between the two countries.

Earlier this month, De Lille enthusiastically welcomed what she described as a new long-haul route from Washington Dulles to Cape Town and an expanded route from Johannesburg to New York/Newark. But according to United Airlines, there’s nothing new about these routes—and no expansion is actually taking place.

“We are not increasing our total flight count to or from South Africa,” the airline told BusinessTech. “We are simply shifting one existing flight for the upcoming summer season.”

Just a Schedule Shuffle

In practical terms, United Airlines is moving one flight around during the South African summer of 2025/26. Instead of operating seven non-stop flights per week between Johannesburg and New York, that route will be cut to six. Meanwhile, flights from Cape Town to New York will increase from three to four per week.

Cape Town’s route to Washington Dulles—initially launched in November 2022—will continue to operate three times a week. These adjustments, United says, are seasonal and temporary.

United Airlines Flight Overview: Summer 2025/26

In other words, the airline is maintaining the same number of flights overall, just shifting some focus to Cape Town for the busy tourist season.

Tourism Tensions Amid Diplomatic Strains

While United Airlines’ move is purely logistical, the politics around South Africa–USA relations are anything but. US President Donald Trump has been highly critical of South Africa, particularly over the recently passed Expropriation Act.

Trump has incorrectly claimed that the law allows the government to confiscate land from white farmers without compensation. The South African government has responded repeatedly, saying the act enables expropriation without compensation only in extreme cases and does not target any racial group.

Despite these tensions, South Africa continues to draw strong tourism numbers from the US. Over 430,000 American tourists visited the country in 2023—a 37.4% increase from 2022. According to VisaNet, US travellers remain key spenders, especially in Cape Town, which accounts for 46% of all international travel spend in South Africa, followed by Johannesburg at 24%.

These figures may explain United Airlines’ decision to prioritize Cape Town routes during the upcoming summer.

Final Word: Not an Expansion—Just a Switch

While the tourism department may have jumped the gun in announcing “expansions,” United Airlines has made it clear that their overall service volume remains unchanged.

This case underscores the delicate balance between political rhetoric, tourism goals, and operational realities. With travel demand rising and diplomatic tensions simmering, the aviation sector finds itself navigating more than just air routes.

{Source: BusinessTech}

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