The winter flights will be operated by Boeing 787-9 aircraft and will complement Virgin’s daily Johannesburg service.
Outbound flights will depart Heathrow at 4.20pm arriving into Cape Town at 5.55am. Returns will depart Cape Town at 8.00am arriving Heathrow 6.00pm.
Return economy fares lead in from £713pp.
It marks Virgin’s first return to Cape Town since its long-standing route was axed in 2014.
Juha Jarvinen, Virgin Atlantic chief commercial officer, said: “We’re delighted to be flying to Cape Town again; we’re expecting a high proportion of leisure travellers on this route taking advantage of the winter sun, the safaris and, of course, the world-famous wine region.”
Virgin said the new route would increase the number of seats available between London and Cape Town by 80,000.
