Deon Cloete, airport manager of Cape Town International Airport, said:"The introduction of this route not only provides a much-needed link between the US and Cape Town from a tourism perspective, but a direct flight with an estimated four-hour saving in travel time will also mean an increase in business and investment opportunities."
The flight will also see an increase in direct and indirect imports into the province, with cargo capacity contributing approximately R94m in potential trade. Between January 2003 and February 2017, a total of 76 foreign direct investment projects were recorded from the US to the Western Cape, amounting to a total capital investment of $1.9bn. During this period, 7,510 jobs were created.
Sthembiso Dlamini, acting CEO of SA Tourism, said:"Arrivals from the US to South Africa have shown consistent growth year-on-year, solidifying its position as a key market, not only for the Western Cape, but for South Africa as a whole."