The inaugural flight from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Int. Airport to Cape Town Int. Airport in South Africa will take place on Saturday, December 17.
Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock reportedly played a key role in urging the Department of Transportation to approve Delta’s application for service to Cape Town. The application was submitted back in June and seeks to have non-stop access between the Atlanta and Cape Town airports. Delta officials report the new route will boost the local economy between $75 to $150 million annually.
The new ATL-CPT airline route is slated to run 10 times weekly with service to Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa. Sen. Warnock said he is excited and honored for the chance to strengthen the Atlanta airport’s position as an international hub.
“This latest route further solidifies Hartsfield-Jackson’s position as a leading gateway to the world, improves our nation’s access to Africa and will be an economic boon to the greater Atlanta region, generating more than $75 million annually,” Warnock said.
Delta’s Vice President of International Government Affairs Bob Letteney said adding more international destinations to the Atlanta airport will boost the economy and further expand travel options to far-away destinations.
“With travel demand continuing to rise, Delta is focused on building an expanded network of international destinations, reinforcing our mantra of 'no one better connects the world,”' Letteney said. “We are grateful for the support of Senator Reverend Warnock in getting this important new route launched.”
In a letter to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Warnock, Sen. Ossoff and six congress members requested the new direct airline route be approved, citing the economic value and continued relations with Africa.
Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson said developing a relationship with South Africa will help drive business, open trade opportunities and facilitate on-going connections.
“Partnerships and relationship-building are at the heart of everything we do in economic development,” Wilson said. “For more than a decade, Georgia has developed impactful relationships with the government of the Western Cape, hosting delegations and participating in best practices exchanges with our colleagues in Cape Town."
http://accesswdun.com/article/2022/12/1155220/sen-warnock-celebrates-deltas-new-non-stop-airline-service-to-cape-town