SAA will increase frequencies on five of its African routes and cease operating its own aircraft between Johannesburg and Bujumbura and Kigali, the airline announced this week.
The changes form part of SAA’s long-term turnaround strategy, which includes maintaining a commercially sustainable African route network as a strategic objective.
Commenting on the announcement, Kendy Phohleli, SAA acting gm: commercial, said: “These plans are captured in our African Expansion Strategy where we aim to increase frequencies on routes with higher passenger volumes with the achievement and maintenance of commercial sustainability our ultimate aim.”
Frequencies that will be increased are as follows:
- Effective December 10, flights between Johannesburg and Kinshasa (DRC) are to be increased from four to six per week
- Effective December 13, the flights between Johannesburg and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) will be increased from 12 to 13 per week
- Effective January 12, 2014 flights between Johannesburg and Windhoek (Namibia) will increase from 20 to 21 per week
- Effective January 13, 2014 flights between Johannesburg and Ndola (Zambia) will increase from 19 to 20 per week
- Effective January 14, 2014 flights between Johannesburg and Lusaka (Zambia) will increase from 19 to 20 per week.
From December 7 SAA will no longer operate its own aircraft between Johannesburg and Bujumbura (DRC) and Kigali (Rwanda) but will service this market through its recently announced codeshare partner RwandAir.
Customers already holding ticketed reservations on SAA direct services between Johannesburg and Bujumbura and Kigali from December 8 onwards will be re-accommodated via SAA’s airline partners in line with the Iata conditions of carriage.
