Virgin Atlantic Cargo will launch a new service from London Heathrow to Cape Town, from October 25, utilising a Boeing 787-9 as part of its winter schedule.
In addition, the carrier will increase its capacity to Cuba.
Virgin Atlantic Cargo frequently transports cargo – including pre-packed fruit salads, vegetables, stone fruits and fish as well as car parts, computer and electrical components, mining equipment, pharmaceuticals, books and magazines – to and from South Africa.
The carrier already has a twice-daily service from Heathrow to Johannesburg, which from March will be the first non-US route use its new Airbus A350-1000.
Other expansions to Virgin Atlantic Cargo’s network include: new daily services from Heathrow to Sao Paulo, twice-daily Delhi flights and increased Heathrow-San Francisco flights, all of which take effect from March.
Dominic Kennedy, managing director of Virgin Atlantic Cargo, commented: “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, Cuba. 2020 is an exciting year for Virgin and our customers.”
