Delta Air Lines’ long-awaited triangular route between Atlanta, Johannesburg and Cape Town will debut later this year. according to the airline.

The announcement comes after what the South African press has called a “regulatory stalemate” following South Africa’s refusal to amend Delta’s Foreign Operators’ Permit. However, after two years, Delta Air Lines’ application to fly a triangular route between Atlanta, Johannesburg and Cape Town has finally been approved by the South African government.

“Delta is grateful to the South African Government Department of Transport for approving its application to operate its triangular route from Atlanta-Johannesburg-Cape Town-Atlanta,” said Jimmy Eichelgruen, Delta’s sales director for Africa, the Middle East and India. We look forward to extending our routing service later this year, offering more choice of travel between South Africa and the U.S.”

Meanwhile, Western Cape minister David Maynier said: “We regard the approval of Delta Air Lines’ application to fly a triangular route between Atlanta, Johannesburg, and Cape Town as a big win, and we will continue to work hard to expand ‘air access’ because more flights means more tourists and more tourists means more jobs in the Western Cape. We remain committed to increasing investment, expanding trade and scaling up tourism with the United States, and so we look forward to finally welcoming Delta Air Lines to the Western Cape.”

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