Cape Town's Direct Flight Network Keeps Expanding in 2026

Cape Town International Airport's route map has grown noticeably in 2026, with several new international and regional services launching or expanding through the year — good news for anyone planning a trip, since more competition on a route generally means more fare options.

A first direct link to South America

LATAM Airlines has launched a non-stop service between São Paulo and Cape Town, the first time a South American carrier has flown directly to the city. Running a few times a week, it removes the need to connect via Europe or the Middle East for travellers moving between South America and the Cape — and opens a genuinely new route for anyone building a multi-stop trip across both continents.

More seats to the Gulf

Emirates has added a third daily flight between Dubai and Cape Town, adding significant extra capacity on one of the city's best-connected long-haul routes and improving onward connections to Emirates' wider network across Asia and Europe.

New island connections

Regional flying out of Cape Town has picked up too, with new direct seasonal services announced to both Mauritius and Zanzibar — useful if you're considering pairing a Cape Town trip with an Indian Ocean island stopover rather than treating them as separate holidays.

What this means for your trip

More direct routes generally put downward pressure on fares over time as airlines compete, though new routes can also launch at introductory pricing that doesn't last. See our flights to Cape Town guide for the practical basics on booking, and check individual airline sites directly for current route maps and schedules, since these continue to evolve through the year.