SAA launches second gateway into Nigeria
THE introduction of
SAA’s flights to Abuja
is expected to result
in easier, seamless and
increased connections into
West Africa for both South
Africans and Nigerians.
The airline says a
second gateway in Nigeria
strengthens its position in
West Africa, where it plays
a significant role in enabling
the movement of goods and
people between Southern
and West Africa.
Lagos has always featured
among SAA’s top three
performing routes in Africa.
The airline has been flying
directly from Johannesburg
to Lagos for 19 years and
the route has become the
airline’s biggest revenue
earner.
As such, SAA conducted
studies to identify
where passengers were
connecting to from Lagos
and discovered that many
travelled on to Abuja
– indicating a demand
for direct flights from
Johannesburg to Abuja.
“A significant benefit of
the new route is that those
using Nigeria as their entry
point into West Africa will not
have to travel through Lagos
Airport to connect on to
other destinations because
it is known to be quite a
nightmare,” said Dianna
Games, ceo of African
business consultancy, Africa
at Work. The airport in
Abuja is safe and processes
are less tedious as
travellers navigate through
immigration, she added.
Abuja is the capital and is
home to the Presidency, the
national Parliament and all
ministries of Government.
Nigeria also has the largest
economy in Africa and SA
plays a critical part with the
investment its business
people bring to the country.
According to Africa analyst,
Adetunji Omotola, there is a
lot of travel between the two
nations as a result – making
increased connectivity into
Nigeria a major benefit.
Osuagwu Chikezie, ceo of
local tour operator service
CGSK Tours, said the flights
would open up opportunities
for those Nigerian residents
living in the north of the
country.
“Previously, people would
have to travel to Lagos
just to catch a flight to
Johannesburg and the
bad traffic in Lagos is
well known,” he said.
“Additionally, this was
obviously not ideal for the
many government officials
who travel to South Africa.”
Adetunji said, from SAA’s
point of view, this meant the
aircraft was always likely
to be full of business and
government passengers on
both legs.
Enough frequency?
Commenting on the route
frequency of three times a
week, SAA spokesperson,
Tlali Tlali, told TNW the
days of business travellers
spending only one night in a
destination were long gone,
especially destinations such
as Abuja and Lagos, which
are about six hours' flying
time from Johannesburg.
“SAA is a network carrier
and we serve a far bigger
target market segment
over and above the traffic
between Nigeria and SA.
We serve a much larger
market segment from each
destination to which we
operate.”
The launch of SAA flights
to a second destination
in Nigeria was described
as “historic” and “groundbreaking”
because of the
tainted history between the
two nations. It is also seen
as the first step toward
the integration of African
countries and their people.
“At least 80% of African
air traffic is carried by nonAfrican
airlines. Five years
ago, that number was 70%.
If we do not work together,
our travellers will continue
to fly non-African airlines,”
said SAA board member,
John Thambi, speaking to
government officials and
corporate representatives
at the inauguration of SAA’s
JNB-Abuja service.
“This route is a symbol
of us working together to
connect Africa and ensure
that African air travellers
are not flying non-African
airlines,” John said.
“Direct flights from
Johannesburg to Nigeria
further signify the
commitment by SAA to
enhance connectivity in
West Africa and into Africa
as a whole,” agreed Tlali.
John added that SAA’s
commitment to connect
African countries through
air travel was in line with
the African Union’s Agenda
2063 which, among other
goals, seeks to create
free movement of people
through the unification of
African airspace as per the
Yamoussoukro Decision.
“With seamless air
connectivity, we can integrate
Africa,” John concluded.
Plenty of things to do in leisure time
ABUJA generally attracts
South African business
people, who, while waiting
for the return flight to
Johannesburg, can explore
the considerable history
of the city. Local tour
operator, CGSK Tours,
hosts four-hour excursions
around Abuja that focus
on either the city, the
environment or the
hinterland.
“Each four-hour
excursion costs the
equivalent of $50 (R809),
which includes lunch for a
minimum of two people,”
CGSK Tours ceo, Osuagwu
Chikezie, explained. “To
include an experience
of the nightlife, the cost
could increase to $65
(R1 052).”
Osuagwu said March
and April were the hottest
times of the year and
Abuja welcomed the bulk
of its visitors between
September and November.
“The weather is cool and
calm during that latter
part of the year and
people come to Abuja
to finalise deals and are
usually in the mood to
spend more than usual as
well,” he said.
An ideal trip for
travellers hoping to
fully experience Abuja
would need to fall
over a Friday so that
they can experience
Abuja’s nightlife and
entertainment offering,
Osuagwu said. “The
traveller could arrive on
the Wednesday morning
then rest before doing a
city tour that afternoon.”
“On Thursday, they could
visit the hinterland and
learn about the historic
Zuma Rock – the entry
point into Abuja and a
symbol worshipped by
some locals – or visit the
Nike Centre for Art and
Craft to find out how the
locals design and handmake
the famous Nigerian
attire,” said Osuagwu.
The city started shutting
down on Fridays around
midday when many
Muslim locals go to their
various mosques, said
Osuagwu. “This is the
time for travellers to visit
the malls and the markets
when they are quieter and
not as crowded as usual.
That evening, we will
either go to a local lounge
or to a nightclub before
the travellers fly back
to Johannesburg on the
Saturday morning.”ABUJA generally attracts
South African business
people, who, while waiting
for the return flight to
Johannesburg, can explore
the considerable history
of the city. Local tour
operator, CGSK Tours,
hosts four-hour excursions
around Abuja that focus
on either the city, the
environment or the
hinterland.
“Each four-hour
excursion costs the
equivalent of $50 (R809),
which includes lunch for a
minimum of two people,”
CGSK Tours ceo, Osuagwu
Chikezie, explained. “To
include an experience
of the nightlife, the cost
could increase to $65
(R1 052).”
Osuagwu said March
and April were the hottest
times of the year and
Abuja welcomed the bulk
of its visitors between
September and November.
“The weather is cool and
calm during that latter
part of the year and
people come to Abuja
to finalise deals and are
usually in the mood to
spend more than usual as
well,” he said.
An ideal trip for
travellers hoping to
fully experience Abuja
would need to fall
over a Friday so that
they can experience
Abuja’s nightlife and
entertainment offering,
Osuagwu said. “The
traveller could arrive on
the Wednesday morning
then rest before doing a
city tour that afternoon.”
“On Thursday, they could
visit the hinterland and
learn about the historic
Zuma Rock – the entry
point into Abuja and a
symbol worshipped by
some locals – or visit the
Nike Centre for Art and
Craft to find out how the
locals design and handmake
the famous Nigerian
attire,” said Osuagwu.
The city started shutting
down on Fridays around
midday when many
Muslim locals go to their
various mosques, said
Osuagwu. “This is the
time for travellers to visit
the malls and the markets
when they are quieter and
not as crowded as usual.
That evening, we will
either go to a local lounge
or to a nightclub before
the travellers fly back
to Johannesburg on the
Saturday morning.
Advice for your travellers”
SAA compiled the following
fact file for passengers to
Abuja:
The best time to travel
is during the dry season
months of November to
February.
While Abuja is a slow and
friendly town, it is
advisable that travellers do
not wander the city alone –
it is always safer to be in
the company of a Nigerian
who knows his way around.
It is dangerous for
travellers to drag a travel
case about any town in
Nigeria, especially if the
traveller is Caucasian or
does not ‘look Nigerian’.
Travellers should keep
their boarding passes on
hand. As they exit the
airport officials will check
if they are leaving with the
correct luggage.
South African rands
are not accepted when
exchanging currency. It is
advised that passengers
exchange their rands
for US dollars while at OR
Tambo International
Airport, then exchange
their US dollars for
Nigerian naira at Abuja’s
Nnamdi Azikiwe
International Airport.
Food in Abuja is generally
spicy and will take some
getting used to.
Travellers should only drink
bottled water unless they
have stayed in Nigeria long
enough to have acquired
some immunity to locally
endemic pathogens.
Haggle for the best
prices at most craft shops.
Conversation is usually
conducted at higher
decibels than travellers
may be used to –
consequently travellers
should simply shout back,
always with a smile.
Finally, most Nigerians will
go out of their way to
assist a foreigner – a
courtesy they do not
necessarily extend to
fellow Nigerians. Enjoy
the cheerful glances in
Abuja, the frequent offers
of assistance and ready
smile from the locals.
The flight schedule
SAA’s non-stop flights
between Johannesburg’s OR
Tambo International Airport
and Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe
International Airport will
operate three times weekly
using an Airbus 330-200
aircraft.
Flight SA088 departs
Johannesburg at 23h00
on Tuesdays, Fridays and
Sundays to arrive in Abuja
at 04h10 the following day.
Return flight SA089
departs ABV at 08h45 on
Mondays, Wednesdays and
Saturdays to arrive in JNB
at 15h40.
Top tips
CGSK Tours’ Osuagwu Chikezie
gave TNW his top four tips for
travellers visiting Abuja:
1. Travellers should take all
necessary safety precautions.
Do not flaunt phones, cameras
or other electronic devices.
2. They should also take antacids
before departing South Africa,
or bring them along, to help
with the spicy Nigerian food.
3. Malaria preventative tablets
should be taken before
departing South Africa.
4. Travellers should dress casually
but females should not show
too much skin as it can offend
the Muslim locals.
