Surprise: Delta and United both win the right to fly to Cape Town
Both Delta Air Lines and United Airlines will be able to launch their proposed services to Cape Town, South Africa.
A fiercely-contested route battle between the airlines ended in a surprise draw: The U.S. Department of Transportation revealed on Thursday that it had worked with South African authorities to obtain approval for both airlines to operate their desired service.
Delta will run a nonstop flight three times a week between its hub at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and Cape Town International Airport (CPT). Flights will start on or around Nov. 17, using the airline's flagship Airbus A350-900.
Delta currently operates flights between Atlanta and Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport (JNB). Later this year, the carrier plans to add the Cape Town stop after the flight departs Johannesburg — completing the so-called "triangle route" that the carrier has been seeking for years. Earlier this year, a Delta spokesperson told TPG that the carrier plans to run both the triangle route and the Cape Town nonstop route, should the nonstop be approved.
United will operate a nonstop flight three times a week between its hub at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Cape Town, starting on or around Nov. 17; the flight will use a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
The airline currently operates nonstop routes from its other East Coast hub at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to both Johannesburg and Cape Town.
In a statement, United said it was grateful for the DOT's action.
"We extend our sincere gratitude to the Department of Transportation, as well as the numerous government and community leaders, airports, customers and employees who supported this application, for recognizing the tremendous benefits to tourism, commerce, and diplomacy that a direct link between Cape Town and Washington, D.C. provides,” United President Brett Hart said. "United has steadily grown its flight offerings to South Africa and across the continent. These new direct flights will promote competition and provide affordable and consistent service to Africa for U.S. travelers.”
Delta said it looked forward to commencing its service.
"Delta is pleased that its application has been tentatively approved to operate direct service from Atlanta-Cape Town," the airline said in a statement. "We hope to provide our customers with more choice of travel between the U.S. and South Africa later this year."
The standoff between the two airlines was spurred by the bilateral air service agreement between the U.S. and South Africa, which dates back to 1996. While the U.S. has "open skies" agreements with much of the world — which generally allow for unlimited frequencies between two countries — the U.S. and South Africa still have a more limited agreement in place. The agreement allows U.S. carriers to operate up to 21 trips per week between the two countries. Currently, United operates 10 of those round-trip journeys, while Delta operates seven — leaving four more round trips to be assigned.
The route proceeding got ugly as the carriers insulted each other in the normally quiet dockets of the DOT. United attacked Delta for retiring its fleet of Boeing 777-200LRs, while Delta bragged that its A350-900 was a better aircraft for the mission than United's 787s.
More: Why Delta and United are both fighting to serve Cape Town
Delta and United both asked for three round trips each — a move that would've put the U.S. two frequencies over its allotment. So, the DOT just asked South Africa for the U.S. carriers to operate 23, instead of 21 frequencies per week. South Africa agreed to it.
While the development is not technically finalized yet, only procedural steps remain. The carriers still need to receive formal approval from South African authorities, and the U.S. DOT has to publish a final order to permit the service, though objections seem unlikely.
Assuming the approvals are granted, both carriers must start service within 90 days of Nov. 17.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.