Norse Atlantic Airways has announced a significant expansion of its London Gatwick (LGW) to Cape Town (CPT) route for the upcoming 2025/2026 season, reflecting the success of its inaugural operation and the growing demand for direct, affordable transcontinental travel between the UK and South Africa.
The low-cost long-haul carrier launched the seasonal Gatwick–Cape Town route in 2024 to considerable acclaim, serving both leisure and business travelers with its signature value proposition: modern aircraft, spacious seating, and no-frills pricing with optional add-ons. With strong load factors and positive customer feedback, Norse is now set to expand the offering substantially for season two.
Expanded Season and Frequencies
For the 2025/2026 season, Norse is extending its Cape Town operations from six to eight months, running from 2 October 2025 to 31 May 2026. The airline will operate up to six flights per week during peak months, adjusting frequency to meet demand:
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October: 5x weekly (including double daily flights on Fridays and Sundays with overnight returns from Cape Town)
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November: 6x weekly
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December to March: 4x weekly
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April: 3x weekly
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May: 5x weekly
This marks one of the most ambitious schedules for a low-cost long-haul airline on the Africa-Europe corridor.
Product Offering: Comfort Meets Affordability
Norse continues to differentiate itself with its competitive and transparent fare structures. Passengers can choose from:
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Norse Economy: With or without inclusions such as meals and baggage.
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Norse Premium: A premium economy product that boasts the largest seat in its class worldwide, offering enhanced comfort at an accessible price point.
All seats are fitted with seat-back entertainment systems, and fares booked via GDS platforms come inclusive of meals and both cabin and hold baggage—offering added value to travel agents and tour operators. Special ITX fares for tour operators are also available, supporting South Africa’s inbound tourism sector.
Strategic Timing and Tourism Boost
The October-to-May operational window strategically coincides with South Africa’s high tourism season, with international arrivals peaking during the Southern Hemisphere’s summer months. The expansion supports Cape Town’s efforts to grow as a year-round tourism destination and provides increased connectivity just as the region ramps up for peak leisure travel.
Wrenelle Stander, CEO of Wesgro (the Western Cape’s trade and tourism promotion agency), recently commented in support of Norse’s initial launch:
“The new service is a game-changer for tourism and trade. We welcome Norse’s long-term commitment to the Western Cape.”
Broader Industry Context
Norse’s expansion comes amid a broader recovery in international air travel post-COVID, and as Cape Town International Airport (CPT) experiences record levels of international traffic. According to the Air Access initiative, the city welcomed over 2.5 million international passengers in 2023, with numbers expected to climb further in 2025.
Meanwhile, London Gatwick remains a key hub for European outbound traffic to Africa. Norse’s operation taps into this demand, offering a competitively priced direct alternative to legacy carriers like British Airways and Virgin Atlantic—neither of which currently operate direct services to Cape Town from Gatwick.
Growing Footprint in Africa
This move is part of Norse’s slow but strategic global expansion. Founded in 2021, the airline has been steadily growing its long-haul network from its London base, including routes to the U.S., the Caribbean, and now, increasingly, Africa.
Speaking during the 2024 Cape Town inaugural, CEO Bjørn Tore Larsen shared that the idea for the route came after his personal travel experience highlighted a gap in the market for direct, cost-effective links between London and Southern Africa.
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