SOUTH AFRICAN Airways (SAA) has commenced codeshare services with Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, following regulatory approval, which enables both carriers to offer codeshare and interline services to key destinations on the two airlines’ route networks.
Agencies/Own Correspondent
The deal was reached after the two airlines signed a memorandum of agreement in May.
Under the first phase of the codeshare agreement, SAA customers can now immediately access SAA marketed flights on Etihad Airways scheduled service from Johannesburg to its hub in Abu Dhabi, and onwards across the airline’s fast growing global network to Bahrain, Kuwait, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. Other major destinations currently pending local regulatory approval include Shanghai, Singapore and Jeddah.
In return, Etihad Airways passengers can now travel on Etihad Airways’ marketed flights from Johannesburg to four major destinations on the SAA network including: Cape Town, Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth.
Code-sharing on scheduled services to other key destinations, including Livingston, Lusaka, Ndola, Harare, and Victoria Falls is currently pending subject to government approval.
The developments come at a time when the national carrier Air Zimbabwe is currently restructuring to reclaim market share.
The airline has since its comeback early this year increased its flights to traditionally viable routes such as the Harare-Bulawayo-Victoria falls and the Harare-Johannesburg.
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Air Zimbabwe according to officials has plans to resume the Harare-London route by year end.
Manoj Papa, SAA’s acting General Manager — Commercial, said: “We are confident that the new codeshare partnership will prove extremely popular with business and leisure travellers who can now take advantage of the greater choice and seamless connectivity across our combined networks and markets.”
Kevin Knight, Etihad Airways’ Chief Strategy and Planning Officer, added: “Increasing our reach into Southern Africa is critical in meeting the demand from growing numbers of leisure and business passengers travelling between Africa and the major emerging markets in the Middle East, Asia, the Indian subcontinent and Australia.
