Senator Reverend Warnock celebrated Delta’s inaugural flight to Cape Town, which is set to depart on Saturday, December 17, from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Senator Reverend Warnock was a key advocate urging the Department of Transportation to approve Delta’s application for non-stop service to Cape Town in a June 2022 letter

Delta estimates that this new route will have an annual local economic impact of $75-150 million in Atlanta and the state 

Senator Reverend Warnock: “I was honored to support the efforts of my home state airline with the Department of Transportation to obtain non-stop flights from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Cape Town International Airport in South Africa”

ICYMI from the AJC: “Senator Raphael Warnock, and several other Georgia legislators wrote a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in June to push for approval of the Atlanta-Cape Town route”

Washington D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) celebrated Delta Air Lines’ inaugural flight to Cape Town International Airport in South Africa, which is set to depart on Saturday, December 17, from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Senator Warnock was a key advocate, urging the Department of Transportation to approve Delta’s application for non-stop service to Cape Town in a June 2022 letter. Delta estimates that this new route will have an annual local economic impact of $75-150 million in Atlanta and the state.

“I was honored to support the efforts of my home state airline with the Department of Transportation to obtain non-stop flights from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Cape Town International Airport in South Africa,” said Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock.“This latest route further solidifies Hartsfield-Jackson’s position as a leading gateway to the world, improves our nation’s access to Africa and will be an economic boon to the greater Atlanta region, generating more than $75 million annually.”

“This never-before-operated, nonstop route from Atlanta to Cape Town builds on Delta’s leading position serving Africa and marks another milestone in our ongoing investment in South Africa,” said Bob Letteney, Delta’s VP, International Government Affairs. “With travel demand continuing to rise, Delta is focused on building an expanded network of international destinations, reinforcing our mantra of ‘no one better connects the world.’ We are grateful for the support of Senator Reverend Warnock in getting this important new route launched.”

According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development, in 2021, Georgia’s imports and exports with South Africa represented $423 million in global trade, while visitors from South Africa had an impact of over $3.3 million on Georgia’s tourism industry.

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