Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille’s claim that United Airlines is expanding its services to South Africa has been denied by the airline.
Airline denies expansion claims
BusinessTech reported that United Airlines, the world’s largest airline by fleet, stated that it is not expanding 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 the Washington Dulles to Cape Town route has operated since November 2022 with three flights per week.
The Johannesburg to Newark route has also been active since 2021, with daily non-stop service.
“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.
Strong US tourist numbers despite political friction
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.
Do you think the government should have confirmed United Airlines’ expansion plans before making the announcement?
Let us know by leaving a comment below or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211.
Also, subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
