Cape Town gains new direct flight connecting to London Gatwick

A direct flight connecting Cape Town International Airport (CPT) to London Gatwick Airport (LGW) has been launched.

Cape Town Air Access and Norse Atlantic Services launched the route in response to a 54% increase in two-way passenger flow between Cape Town and the United Kingdom (UK) in 2023.

As reported by Moneyweb, Norse will operate three weekly flights along this route, starting 28 October 2024.

The direct flight is set to increase the number of international flights between Cape Town and the UK to 27 per week during the International Air Transport Association’s 2024/25 winter season, which coincides with South Africa’s summer season.

In a press release, Cape Town Air Access, an award-winning air-route development project powered by Wesgro, stated that the new flight will ‘stimulate economic growth in the region and contribute to job creation in the tourism sector’.

It added that the new service will expand traveller options between London and Cape Town, especially for ‘price-sensitive South African passengers’.

News routes ‘solidify renewed confidence in the city’, says Mark Maclean, regional GM of the Cape Town International Airport Cluster (which includes the airports in George, Kimberley and Upington).

‘Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) is proud to be a partner of Cape Town Air Access, which continues to deliver excellent results in enhancing international connectivity to the region.’

The UK plays a major role in foreign direct investment (FDI) and tourism in the Western Cape.

Moneyweb reports that 105 FDI projects were initiated by the UK between January 2010 and November 2023, contributing to the region’s economic development, generating more than R25 billion in estimated capital expenditure and creating 6 600 jobs.