LHR → CPTLondon to Cape Town

live

Direct flights from London (LHR) to Cape Town (CPT): 19 nonstop departures observed each week across 3 airlines. 71% of the last 14 operated flights arrived within 15 minutes of schedule. The median arrival is 6 minutes early. No cancellations were recorded across the 14 tracked flights. The nonstop covers 9,682 km, an estimated 12 hours 55 minutes in the air. Measured by Pro Flight Search from live flight boards at London and Cape Town. Updated 24 October 2026 at 15:21 UTC.

Today, LHR → CPT

Sat 24 Oct · local times
  1. 18:55 VS478Virgin Atlantic On schedule ·
  2. 22:30 BA59British Airways On schedule ·
  3. · Z0795Norse Atlantic UK On schedule CPT 22:10scheduled

Checked LHR board 16:21 · CPT board 15:52

LHR London heavy · +35
CPT Cape Town smooth · +0
9,682 km · ~12h 55m est.
dep bank 18:55–22:3019x weekly
Runs mixed · 3 airlines · 19x weekly · nonstop
71% on time

of the last 14 operated LHR → CPT flights arrived within 15 minutes

Median arrival delay is −6 min. 0 of 14 tracked legs cancelled in the sample. Will a delayed flight be cancelled? →

Median arrival−6 minacross the last 14 operated legs
Flight time~12h 55mestimated from route distance
Weekly departures19x3 direct airlines on the leg
Cancelled0.0%recent route rate · 0 of 14

The week

scheduled departures · origin local time
06121824
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
British AirwaysNorse Atlantic UKVirgin Atlantic

Each mark is a scheduled departure at its origin-local time, observed operating in the last 7 days. Today is highlighted.

Who flies it

observed on the boards · 7 days
British AirwaysBA57% on time

Flights BA59 22:30 daily

Norse Atlantic UKZ0

Flights Z0795 22:10 Mo We Fr Sa Su

Virgin AtlanticVS86% on time

Flights VS478 18:55 daily

History

operated legs · board outcomes
10-23BA59dep +99 → arr+47
10-23VS478dep +28 → arr−22
10-22BA59dep +21 → arr−12
10-22VS478dep +19 → arr−35
10-21BA59dep +25 → arr−23
10-21VS478dep +23 → arr−15
10-20BA59dep +53 → arr+22
10-20VS478dep +35 → arr+4
10-19BA59dep +19 → arr−6
10-19VS478dep +41 → arr+19
10-18BA59dep +23 → arr+22
10-18VS478dep +36 → arr+8
10-17BA59dep +14 → arr−16
10-17VS478dep +21 → arr−26

Actual board outcomes rather than schedules, paired departure and arrival per flight and day.

Full board history, day by day →

Airports right now

live boards
LHRLondon +35 min heavy 🌫 overcast · S 17 kt Full LHR delay board →
CPTCape Town +0 min smooth 🌤 clear · S 15 kt Full CPT delay board →

Weather lens

Current conditions put the pressure at CPT: 37% odds of a 15+ minute delay and around +8 min expected when it bites, measured from this route's own weather-matched delay history. See live delays → · Weather risk by airport →

How the London to Cape Town route actually runs

Pro Flight Search records official board updates for nonstop LHR to CPT flights through the day: schedules, estimates, gate pushes and actual departures. The verdict above comes from operated flights, so it reflects what this route does rather than what the timetable promises.

Planning around a delay? Live airport delays · Weather delay risk map · Will a delayed flight be cancelled? · Do planes make up time in the air? · How we measure

Cite this data

Journalists, bloggers, and researchers may cite this page with attribution and a link to Pro Flight Search.

Suggested citation

Pro Flight Search — London (LHR) to Cape Town (CPT) route reliability, measured from operated flights on official airport boards.

Canonical URL
https://proflightsearch.com/search-flights/LHR-CPT
How we measure this →

LHR to CPT questions

Is LHR–CPT running on time right now?

Mostly on schedule. The departure side at LHR is the weaker end, route health score 77/100. The airports section above carries the live status and delay window at both ends.

Morning or evening flight on LHR–CPT?

Operators schedule evening departures around 18:55 from LHR. Earlier flights typically land before destination-airport delays accumulate later in the day; check the CPT delay card to confirm conditions when you'd arrive.

How long is the flight from LHR to CPT?

Great-circle distance is 9,682 km. With typical jet cruise speed plus taxi, climb and descent, expect roughly 713–860 min gate-to-gate on this route.

How often does LHR–CPT fly?

3 carriers operate this route, around 19 flights a week between them. Compare carrier days and times in the airline list above.