As Virgin Atlantic celebrates 24 years of services to South Africa, the airline will launch a new daily Heathrow-Cape Town service from October 2020 and increase capacity to Cuba as part of their winter flying programme.

The introduction of Cape Town flights from Heathrow for the winter season will offer new export and import opportunities for customers already supporting Virgin Atlantic’s existing double daily services from Heathrow to Johannesburg. The 787-9 service will commence on 25 October.

South Africa is one of Virgin Atlantic’s most popular cargo routes, attracting regular shipments of pre-packed fruit salads, vegetables, stone fruits and fish, as well as car parts, computer and electrical components, mining equipment, pharmaceuticals, books and magazines.

In March, Johannesburg will also be the first non-US route to begin services with the airline’s new Airbus A350-1000.

Virgin Atlantic will also reinforce its position as the only airline flying directly to Havana from London Heathrow by adding another weekly service to the city. Flights will depart Heathrow every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday on a 787-9 aircraft.

Managing director of Virgin Atlantic Cargo, Dominic Kennedy, said: “This year, with the growth of our flying programme and our new expanded joint venture with Air France-KLM and Delta, we’re giving our cargo customers unprecedented access to new markets, new gateways in existing markets and extra frequencies.

“South Africa is a great cargo market and the addition of Cape Town to our network, alongside the launch of A350 flights on Johannesburg, will increase the choice we can offer our customers in the UK and South Africa as well as those in the US who trade with South Africa via our London hub.

“We are also pleased to be offering more capacity for customers moving goods to and from Havana. 2020 is an exciting year for Virgin and our customers.”

Visit virginatlanticcargo.com for more information.