brown tree on surrounded by brown grass during golden hour

Photo by Hu Chen on Unsplash

United Airlines Expands Focus on Africa

May 23, 2024

As travel demand evolves post-pandemic, United Airlines is strategically adjusting its routes to meet changing preferences. Initially, many carriers focused on launching new routes to smaller European cities, catering to the spike in American tourists exploring the continent. However, a notable shift is occurring, with increased interest in destinations on other continents, particularly Africa and Asia.

United Airlines has responded to this trend by announcing new flights for the summer of 2024 to Tokyo and Cebu in the Philippines. Additionally, the airline has ramped up flights to key Asian cities, including Shanghai, Seoul, and Hong Kong, from the West Coast of the United States. This expansion highlights United’s commitment to meeting the rising demand for travel to Asia.

Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines and Norse Atlantic are also expanding their horizons, with new or returning flights to African destinations such as Ghana and South Africa. This shift underscores a growing industry recognition of Africa as an emerging travel hotspot.


United Airlines has identified Cape Town as a city with substantial growth potential. The airline launched its first flight to Cape Town from Newark Liberty International Airport in 2019 and now operates 13 weekly flights to South Africa, including six flights to Johannesburg and a daily service to Cape Town. According to United’s director of sales for Europe, Africa, the Middle East, India, and Israel, Thorsten Lettnin, there is consistent demand for travel to Cape Town year-round, suggesting further opportunities for expansion.

Traveler interest in Cape Town has surged post-pandemic, driven by a rise in long-awaited trips to distant destinations. United Airlines has capitalized on this trend by enhancing its partnership with South African airline Airlink, facilitating seamless connections to more African destinations via Cape Town and Johannesburg hubs.

The broader aviation industry is also taking notice of the increasing demand for travel to Africa. In April, budget airline Norse Atlantic introduced a new flight from London Gatwick International Airport to Cape Town, challenging the existing dominance of British Airways and South African Airways on this route. Norse Atlantic’s new service, starting on Oct. 28, offers significantly lower fares, making travel to Cape Town more accessible.


Recent News

Bill Gates Expresses Optimism for Nuclear Power Project

Bill Gates, the renowned Microsoft founder, recently shared his optimism about the future of a groundbreaking nuclear power project led by his energy company, TerraPower. Speaking on “Face the Nation,” Gates highlighted the strong bipartisan support for nuclear energy, which he believes will ensure the project’s progress regardless of political shifts in Washington.