The nonstop Atlanta-Cape Town service commences December 17 and will operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays using the Airbus A350-900. The service from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to Cape Town International Airport (CPT) departs at 8:50 p.m. and arrives in CPT at 6:15 p.m. the next day.

Excellent question! Finding nonstop flights to Cape Town (CPT) can be a bit tricky, as the route is highly seasonal and operated in partnership with other airlines.

Here’s the detailed breakdown for Delta Air Lines:

The Short Answer:

Delta does not operate its own aircraft nonstop to Cape Town (CPT) from the United States. However, it does offer nonstop service to Cape Town through its Joint Venture partner and SkyTeam alliance member, Virgin Atlantic.

The Key Details:

1. Operated by Virgin Atlantic: The nonstop flight is marketed as a Delta codeshare (flight numbers starting with “DL”), but it is physically flown by a Virgin Atlantic plane with Virgin Atlantic crew.
2. Seasonal Route: This nonstop service is seasonal, typically running from late October/early November through late March/April. It coincides with the peak summer travel season in the Southern Hemisphere.
3. The Route: The flight operates as:
   • Virgin Atlantic VS 459: Atlanta (ATL) → Cape Town (CPT)
   • The return is VS 458: Cape Town (CPT) → Atlanta (ATL)
4. You Can Book on Delta: You can search for and book this flight directly on Delta’s website or app. It will appear as a Delta codeshare (e.g., DL 8###) and you can earn and use SkyMiles.

Delta’s Own Metal to South Africa:

• Delta does operate its own aircraft nonstop from the U.S. to Johannesburg (JNB). This is a year-round service