United Airlines refutes claims of expanding flight routes to South Africa
United Airlines has clarified that it is not expanding its services to South Africa, contradicting Patricia de Lille’s statement.
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille’s announcement about United Airlines increasing its services to South Africa has been refuted by the airline.
Airline denies expansion claims
According to BusinessTech, United Airlines—the world’s largest airline by fleet—has stated that it is not increasing its operations in South Africa.
Instead, it is temporarily adjusting its schedule by shifting one flight during the 2025/26 summer season.
This comes after De Lille said that United would be introducing a new long-haul service from Washington Dulles to Cape Town and expanding its Johannesburg to New York/Newark route.
Routes already in operation
United confirmed that its Washington Dulles to Cape Town route has been operating with three weekly flights since November 2022.
The airline also noted that the Johannesburg to Newark route has offered daily non-stop service since 2021.
“United Airlines’ total number of flights to and from South Africa remains unchanged,” the airline told BusinessTech. “We are simply rebalancing capacity between routes.”
During the upcoming South African summer season, the Johannesburg–Newark flight will reduce to six flights per week, while the Cape Town–Newark route will increase to four.
This seasonal adjustment is expected to revert at the end of summer.
High US tourist turnout amid political tensions
Despite the confusion, tourist arrivals from the United States remain strong.
Over 430 000 American visitors travelled to South Africa in 2023, a 37.4% increase from the previous year.
De Lille said the US remains a top source market for South Africa’s tourism sector, and the department will continue to promote travel from the US, the world’s largest economy.
VisaNet data supports this, indicating that Cape Town and Johannesburg are the top spending destinations among international travellers, with Cape Town accounting for 46% of international visitor spend.
Diplomatic tensions in the background
The airline’s clarification comes amid a backdrop of tense political relations between the US and South Africa.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised South Africa’s recently passed Expropriation Act, falsely claiming it is being used to confiscate land from white farmers.
The South African government has denied this, stating that expropriation without compensation would apply only in extreme cases.
Trump has also indicated he may skip the upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, citing concerns over what he has called a “white genocide.”
Adding to the strain, US lawmakers have introduced two new Bills aimed at South Africa.
One seeks to impose sanctions on ANC and government officials, while the other proposes refugee protections for Afrikaner farmers.