SAA drops flights to Addis Ababa

SAA has decided to stop its direct flight service to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, because of low demand. The last flight to Addis Ababa will leave Johannesburg on August 31 and return the next day. In a statement issued yesterday, the South African national carrier said it was trying to negotiate with Ethiopian Airlines to accommodate passengers who had made prior bookings beyond September's cut off date. The service was introduced to "strengthen relations between South Africa and Ethiopia". "But since SAA introduced the service between Addis Ababa and Johannesburg seven months ago, the demand for seats has been very low," confirmed the statement. (Natalia Thomson)