SAA Promotes Interconnectivity in Africa by introducing a new sector to its Route Network
SAA operates to five destinations in Central Africa - Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Douala in Cameroon, Brazzaville and Pointe Noire in the Republic of Congo, and to Libreville in Gabon.
With effect from 31 July SAA will reschedule its flights to operate from Johannesburg to Brazzaville and the same flight then continues to Pointe Noire. The return operation departs from Pointe Noire to Brazzaville where the flight then continues to Johannesburg. This operation to the Republic of Congo does not utilise any domestic rights, meaning that SAA does not carry any passengers between Brazzaville and Pointe Noire or vice versa. Brazzaville and Pointe Noire are proving to be popular destinations hence the decision to offer this exclusive service to these two markets in the Congo.
SAA will continue to serve Cotonou, in Benin and will now do so utilising its service to Libreville, Gabon, effectively introducing a new sector between Libreville and Cotonou. SAA has secured traffic rights enabling it to pick up and drop off passengers between Libreville and Cotonou in both directions. The flight will depart from Johannesburg to Libreville and then continue to Cotonou where it will be on the ground for approximately one hour before embarking on the return flight to Johannesburg via Libreville. The Cotonou market has grown substantially and will now be served three times a week.
“Destinations we serve in Central Africa, with flying times of just over five hours from Johannesburg are best served by this enhanced schedule which offers some of the markets non-stop flights from and to Johannesburg. At the same time we are offering our valued customers increased frequencies and connections through our hub at OR Tambo International Airport to the entire South African Airways network,” says Aaron Munetsi, SAA General Manager Commercial (Acting).
Countries in Central Africa form part of an economic block in their own right, through the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), which have been formed for the promotion of regional economic co-operation and integration among countries that share a common currency.
“The growing trade relations between the CEMAC region and the SADC region and with South Africa in particular, offer us an exciting opportunity to be part of this growth in intra Africa trade. We are even more excited by the growing numbers of the Middle Class who have high discretionary spend and who have shown a keen interest in travel by air. SAA will continue to serve these markets and grow our operations to these areas as part of our African growth plan,” says Munetsi.
The enhancements to SAA’s route network will enable the airline to offer more frequencies to other markets in its network such as Mauritius and Harare where demand keeps growing.
Mauritius now offers double dailies on four days of the week (Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday). The Johannesburg – Harare (Zimbabwe) route is served twice daily with three flights on Mondays, Tuesday, Fridays, Saturday and Sundays.
