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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 each others’ route networks.
Effective immediately, and under the first phase of
the codeshare agreement, SAA
customers can now 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. Codesharing on scheduled services
to other key destinations, including Livingston, Lusaka, Ndola, Harare, and
Victoria Falls is currently pending subject to government approval.
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.
“The partnership agreement with South African Airways
reflects our strategy of forming alliances with airlines around the world to
enhance the global reach of our network,” he said.
Phase two of the wide ranging Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in May 2013 makes
provision for the airlines to explore areas of further commercial cooperation
that provide costs saving and operational efficiencies, which can be achieved
through synergies and collaboration across a number of areas including
reciprocal Frequent Flyer Programme participation, ground handling,
procurement and training.
Etihad Airways launched its service between the UAE
and South Africa in 2005.
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About SAA
South African Airways (SAA) is the
leading carrier in Africa, serving 26 destinations across the continent,
as well as major destinations within South Africa and internationally from its
Johannesburg hub. It is a member of the largest international airline network,
Star Alliance. SAA’s core business is the provision of passenger airline and
cargo transport services together with related services, which are provided
through SAA and its four wholly owned subsidiaries: SAA Technical; Mango its
low cost carrier; Air Chefs, the catering entity of SAA and South
African Travel Centre (SATC). SAA is the winner of the 'Best Airline
in Africa’ Award in the regional category for eleven consecutive years.
Mango and SAA hold the number one and number two successive spots as South
Africa’s most on - time airlines.
