Delta and Virgin Atlantic expand South Africa flights via new codeshare deal

Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic have launched a new codeshare agreement to expand travel options to South Africa. The partnership will allow passengers from eight US cities to connect through London to two key destinations in the country. Both airlines aim to meet growing demand for flights to the region.

The agreement takes effect on different dates for each route. From August 7, travellers can book Delta-coded flights on Virgin Atlantic’s year-round service to Johannesburg. The Cape Town route, which operates seasonally, will follow on October 13. Delta’s flight numbers will appear on Virgin Atlantic’s nonstop services from London Heathrow to both Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Delta currently serves six African cities with nonstop flights, including Accra and Lagos from Atlanta and New York. The new codeshare builds on this network, offering more connections for US passengers. The airline has identified strong, untapped demand for South Africa travel and sees this partnership as a way to fill that gap. Delta holds a 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic, and both carriers are members of the SkyTeam alliance. This latest move strengthens their existing collaboration, giving Delta frequent flyers more ways to earn and redeem miles. Passengers can also unlock extra perks by opening a Delta co-branded credit card, adding further incentives to the expanded route options.

The codeshare agreement opens up more flight choices for US travellers heading to South Africa. With connections through London, passengers from eight American cities can now reach Johannesburg and Cape Town more easily. The expanded service begins in August for Johannesburg and in October for Cape Town.