DELTA Air Lines yesterday announced that it has filed for the necessary government approval to operate flights between Atlanta and Johannesburg.

Delta will become the only major US airline to operate scheduled services to South Africa since Pan Am ended its New York – Johannesburg service in 1986.

Jimmy Eichelgruen, Delta’s manager, gsa sales Europe, ME and Africa, said the airline expects to begin the service as early as December.

Eichelgruen said at a press announcement in Johannesburg yesterday, that the flights will go via Dakar for refuelling, but Delta is hoping to gain rights which will allow it to take on and drop off passengers at Dakar.

The US carrier already has rights to operate passenger services between the US and Senegal, and there is evidence of increasing activity on the route.

Eichelgruen said: “This is a long term project; we’re here for the long haul.” Delta is planning to operate the service with a B767-300 with 36 business-class (branded BusinessElite) and 178 economy-class seats.

Eichelgruen told TNN he is confident about the numbers on the route, saying the airline has done its homework. He added Delta will end its codeshare with SAA on the route as the two carriers will become vigorous competitors on the transatlantic route now that SAA has begun its codeshare with Star Alliance partner, United, in January.

Presently, the frequency of flights is unknown.

Great news since that's where most of my miles are. I'd also love to be able to do a stopover in Senegal.

Explains why SAA dropped them asa partner...

The plans for this change of partnership has been in the works about 2-years now. I don't recall the history, but it's not unusual for airlines to change partnerships.

There was a thread about this back sometime. You can do a search about this
OR
Patti may recall!

Well I dont think SAA has too much to worry about. Some choice-a 767 run by a sub-standard airline or SAA's excellent service on the 747 or Airbus.

I don't think it is unusual at all, merely commenting sI knew about the partner change. Typically partnerships die whe they cannot agree on revenuse share, or when they build competing routes.

I think it's great news. Of 4 trips to Africa, I only paid for one. The others were all paid with FF miles thru Delta.

The only excellent service I have had on SAA was the first trip in 2002. There hasn't been much service on the 17 hour flights since then. The in-country flights seem to have friendlier staff and better service.

I read somewhere else they will be flying 777's.

Our SAA crew over to Africa was wonderful - they couldn't have been more attentive. Unfortunately our return flight wasn't quite as nice. Oh well. But I don't recall that we were on a 747. I think we were on a 757 or maybe one of the Airbus planes because it had 2 seats next to the window (my preference) rather than the 3 that a 747 has. And I got my Delta miles credited for the flight since they were still partners with SAA at that point. I would hope that Delta will serve South African wines like SAA did - that was very nice (and free - even better!).

Our SAA crew over to Africa was wonderful - they couldn't have been more attentive. Unfortunately our return flight wasn't quite as nice. Oh well. But I don't recall that we were on a 747. I think we were on a 757 or maybe one of the Airbus planes because it had 2 seats next to the window (my preference) rather than the 3 that a 747 has. And I got my Delta miles credited for the flight since they were still partners with SAA at that point. I would hope that Delta will serve South African wines like SAA did - that was very nice (and free - even better!).

It was an airbus-SAA only fly the 747 from Dulles (and also from London-JNB)

any idea when this will happen? i've got delta miles from the last trip and it would be nice to add to them on the 3rd trip

Just read today in Conde Nast's Traveler May issue that Delta will begin flying to Dakar and Jo'burg in December of this year ('06).

The specific date wasn't given but there is a small article about it alongside a larger spread profiling several African countries-Namibia, Zambia, Gabon, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda and Mozambique-as the new 'hot spot' travel destinations.

So hang on to your Delta FF miles. They may come in handy. Let's hope!

I'me watching this thread with curiosity and trepidation. I used my Delta FF miles to book 2 tickets and purchased a third directly from SAA, on SAA(they are SAA tickets with SAA locator numbers) in Dec thru Atlanta to CPT(via jhb) I wonder what will happen if they stop flying out of Atlanta

Just reread the press release, I guess I imagined flying American from Miami to Cape Town in 1999. Or maybe it wasn't a scheduled service they just provided the flight especially for me.
What hope do they have if they can't get the press release right?

Napa,
As I recall the last US carrier to fly into SA was PanAm.
So if you flew American ex Miami in 99, then I have to say, you were imagining it, or you were on some really good stuff.
AA had a code share (as did Delta) with SAA. delta having lost out to United (Star alience) is now moving it's own hardware to SA, which will be the first American tail in SA for many years.

When, if ever, may we expect a USA - East Africa flight???

Soon, we hope! The Nairobi airport is in the process of being certified by the FAA for flights to/from the US. There's an article about it in the attached link.

http://www.africa-ata.org/airhighways_africa.htm

We just heard from our travel agent. We were booked to come back SAA on July 3: Jo'burg to Atlanta, Atlanta to Bradenton/Sarasota. Now we have Jo'burg to JFK, JFK to Cincinatti, and Cinci to B'ton/Sarasota. It adds about 5 1/2 hours to our already long trip (we start in Livingstone), but - to look on the bright side - we can get some Skyline chili during the Cinci layover!

I have spent 3 days on the phone with Delta trying to rebook our flights in Oct(orrig scheduled to fly Atlanta-Jburg) The first day I was told not problem, we will get you out of NYC. I did not book it as I needed to consult with DH about the change in times. Called back the next day, and spoke with a very nasty man who said, we are working on these flights, don't call us, we'll call you when we have something to offer. I called again today and was put on flights out of JFK, just need to go to the airport and re-issue the paper tickets. My advice is if you are holding an Atl-Jburg flight, keep calling till you get put on a flight despite what they say. My persistence payed off and we are SA bound. My only question is how do I get a seat assignment on SAA, Delta cannot do it(they say...)Maybe I'll be able to do it at the airport when I re-issue the tickets??

momofmany

momofmany,
Try calling SAA. I don't know what their policy is with advance ssat assignments, but you generally need to call the operating airline directly for seating.

ShayTay,

That is great news about Nairobi. A Miami - Nairobi routing would be ideal...I am figuring it would possibly be a nonstop 14 hour flight?

The distance is really pushing the limit of a nonstop flight capability, as it is 7,900 miles. At 14 hours, the plane would need to average 564 miles per hour...probably not going to happen. Then again, it is 7,500 miles from Los Angeles to Sydney, so it may just be possible.

This would also be good news for travelers going to Zambia, as if the flight times work out, it would be easier to fly into Nairobi than to go all the way down to Joburg, only to then turn around and fly back up north 2 hours. First you fly two hours past Lusaka, then you have a 2 hour stopover, if you are lucky, and then you hope a plane and fly back up 2 more hours! 6 wasted hours in each direction...a minimum of 12 hours wasted, altogether, but probably more like 15 hours.