Planning a trip to Cape Town – or the United Kingdom – this summer? There’s good news on the horizon, with Norse Atlantic Airways announcing the launch of new seasonal flights between London Gatwick and Cape Town.
In what will be Norse Atlantic's first destination in Africa, the new route takes off on October 28, 2024, with three flights a week – Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday – departing from Gatwick Airport, a 30-minute train ride south of London. Outbound flights will depart London Gatwick at 8pm to land in Cape Town at 9.30am the following morning, while inbound flights depart Cape Town at 11.45am and arrive at London Gatwick at 9.35pm the same day.
Return fares start from £499 (R11 800) return in Economy and £1199 (R28 500) in Norse Premium class.
The new route is good news for travellers looking to fly direct from London to Cape Town, with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic currently the only two airlines flying this popular summertime route.
Norse Atlantic is, of course, trumpeting its cheapest possible fare, so Time Out looked at booking for a random set of dates in November, opting for Norse Atlantic’s ‘Economy Classic’ fare. This includes a meal service and luggage allowance, to allow for easy comparison with Virgin Atlantic and British Airways.
Flying from London to Cape Town on November 20, returning a week later, the fare options were:
- Norse Atlantic (Gatwick): £642 (R15 300)
- British Airways (Heathrow): £931 (R22 200)
- Virgin Atlantic (Heathrow): £931 (R22 200)
A similar pattern follows throughout the December/January peak season and, with a few date exceptions, Norse Atlantic fares were usually up to £300 (R7100) cheaper than the competing carriers on the route. It is worth remembering that while luggage allowances and boarding priority are similar across the three airlines, Norse Atlantic offers a reduced in-flight service, with only a single non-alcoholic drink included.
‘We are thrilled to introduce our new route between London and Cape Town. By breaking the duopoly on this route, we are not only expanding travel options for consumers but also driving down costs and putting the customer back in the pilot’s seat,’ said Bjorn Tore Larsen, CEO and Founder of Norse Atlantic Airways. ‘At Norse Atlantic Airways, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to experience the wonders of the world and our new route to Cape Town will allow many more people to visit this amazing destination.’
While London Heathrow remains the key gateway to the city, London Gatwick is increasingly popular for leisure travellers, with excellent connectivity across Europe and the United States.
‘Norse has continued to grow at London Gatwick and provide excellent connectivity to a number of key markets across the USA,’ adds Stephanie Wear, Vice-President Aviation Development for London Gatwick. ‘This new route to South Africa is great news not only for those looking for a fantastic holiday destination, but also for trade and inbound tourism.’
Norse Atlantic operates a fleet of modern Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, with a choice of two cabins on board: Economy and Norse Premium. Passengers can also choose from a range of fares, including Light, Classic and Flextra, with varying amounts of baggage allowance, meal service and ticket flexibility.
Want to add on a safari? Safair now flies from Cape Town to Kruger!