A brawl has broken out between United Airlines and Delta Air Lines over the run to Cape Town. United is going year-round into Cape Town from June, and Delta wants to start flying to the South African city later this year. Now United wants to add extra flights into Cape Town, and it’s fair to say Delta is not happy about it.
Earlier this month, United applied for an extra allocation of three weekly US-South Africa frequencies to provide thrice-times-weekly, year-round flights between Washington DC (IAD) and Cape Town (CPT). The airline is already allowed to fly three times a week between New York Newark (EWR) and Cape Town – those flights beginning in June.
The additional Washington DC flights would start later in the year and use 257 seat Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. United argues the flights will provide passengers extra choice, but the application remains up in the air – subject to approval from US and South African aviation authorities.
United wants to fly an extra three flights a week between the US and Cape Town using Boeing 787-9 aircraft. Photo: United Airlines
“Delta’s application is superior to United’s in all material respects”
As part of the approvals process, US authorities call for submissions from potentially impacted parties. Step up Delta Air Lines. Delta’s plans revolve around thrice-weekly flights from November between Atlanta (ATL) and Cape Town using 306 seat Airbus A350-900 aircraft.
“The Department should deny the authority sought in United’s application or, alternatively, promptly move to institute a proceeding to weigh the merits of United’s application against Delta’s application to provide nonstop service to Cape Town, South Africa from Atlanta. Delta’s application is superior to United’s in all material respects,” said the Atlanta-based airline in a March 18 Department of Transportation filing.
“The substantive merits of Delta’s application and the public benefits…