Cape Town Air Access, powered by Wesgro, is delighted to announce a significant enhancement in air connectivity between Cape Town and London for the upcoming summer season (November 2024 – March 2025). Starting 10 January 2025, Cape Town will see a surge in flights from London, offering passengers more flexibility and convenience when travelling between these two iconic cities.
British Airways has announced several changes to its Cape Town seasonal schedule for the upcoming South African summer season. The carrier, which currently operates a daily service from London Heathrow, will introduce an additional daily flight starting at the end of October 2024. This will be further expanded by 10 January 2025, with yet another daily service, increasing the total number of weekly flights from London Heathrow to 21.
This increase will replace the carrier’s three-weekly seasonal service from London Gatwick. The British Airways’ London Gatwick service will now only operate between 13 December 2024 and 7 January 2025, with the final return flight from Cape Town scheduled for 8 January, ensuring seamless alignment with the increased capacity from Heathrow.
Norse Atlantic Airways recently announced a new service on the London Gatwick – CPT route, which will operate three flights a week starting 28 October with an extended season until end-April to capture additional Easter traffic. Virgin Atlantic also intends to capture additional demand driven by the Easter holidays, similarly announcing an extension to its daily seasonal service from London Heathrow until 30 April 2025. These changes will result in an overall increase in weekly flights to 31 frequencies between Cape Town and the UK for the season.
Connectivity to the United Kingdom holds paramount importance for Cape Town and the Western Cape, as the UK consistently ranks as the top tourist market for the region. For the first half of 2024, more than 210 000 two-way passengers travelled between the UK and Cape Town, which equated to a 7% increase from the same period in 2023. The enhanced air services, particularly the additional daily flights from London Heathrow, will not only bolster tourism by providing UK visitors with more travel options, but also support the local economy through increased visitor spend. This enhancement in air connectivity is a testament to Cape Town’s growing importance as a key destination in Africa and ensures that the region remains a preferred destination for UK travellers seeking both leisure and business opportunities.
“The United Kingdom has always been a key market for Cape Town and the Western Cape, and we are thrilled to enhance our connectivity with the introduction of additional daily flights from London Heathrow,” said Wrenelle Stander, Wesgro CEO and Official Spokesperson for Cape Town Air Access. She further adds ”This strategic expansion not only reflects the growing demand but also underscores our commitment to making Cape Town more accessible to international travellers. We are confident that these new services will further strengthen our tourism sector and boost trade opportunities for our region,”
“Last year, the UK was one of the largest overseas air markets for international travellers to Cape Town, with 89,034 UK tourists arriving by air. The Western Cape remains a preferred destination for UK travellers, and with improved connectivity between the two regions, the city hopes to welcome even more UK visitors, further boosting our economy,” said Dr Ivan Meyer, Provincial Minister for Economic Opportunities and Agriculture, Western Cape Government.
Commenting on this development, Alderman James Vos, the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth and Tourism, said: “These increased flights from London signify Cape Town’s continuing appeal and strength in the UK and European markets. This growth follows our marketing campaigns and partnerships with organisations like Wesgro. The City’s Place-Marketing team is working on further activations designed to drive forward bookings. This will lead to a rise in travellers that will boost our economy and create more job opportunities for Capetonians.”
“Airports Company South Africa’s Cape Town International Airport celebrates the arrival of these additional new flights from the United Kingdom. It not only enhances our connectivity with one of our most important and growing markets, but also provides greater convenience and flexibility for travellers. This development is a testament to the continued successful collaboration with our partners in the aviation, economic and tourism sector. We look forward to warmly welcoming even more visitors from the UK and to offer them a great experience through the gateway of our beautiful Mother City,” added Mark Maclean, Regional General Manager for Cape Town International Airport, ACSA.
