Take 3 for Air China

AIR China will launch direct
services between Beijing
and Johannesburg, starting
October 29, Jane Hu, sales
manager in Johannesburg,
has confirmed.
This is the airline’s third
attempt to launch flights to
South Africa. Air China first
announced a March launch
date, which was postponed
to August 30. The airline
cancelled the August
launch, citing SA’s new
onerous visa regulations as
one of the main deterrents.
Bookings for the
PEK-JNB service can already
be made on Air China’s
website. The airline will
operate three flights a
week, codesharing
with SAA.
Flights will depart
Johannesburg at 11h50
on Mondays, Wednesdays
and Fridays, arriving the
following day in Beijing at
07h30. Return flights from
Beijing will depart at 23h15
on Tuesdays, Thursdays
and Sundays, arriving in
Johannesburg at 07h55.
Fares start from
CNY6 258 (R12 440) return
in economy class and
CNY34 177 (R67 945) in
business class, including
taxes.
Meanwhile, SAA is in
discussions with airlines
in Hong Kong as well as
a number of other global
operators to increase its
global reach and presence,
Sylvain Bosc, SAA’s chief
commercial officer, told
TNW. “Key elements of
SAA’s Long Term Turnaround
Strategy include ‘non-metal
revenue growth’ through
partnerships that can
assist SAA in obtaining
more business, particularly
connecting passengers
at its OR Tambo base,
without having to incur
risky, capital-intensive asset
deployments,” he said.
Recent media reports
claim that SAA has been
in discussions with both
Qantas and Cathay Pacific
to enhance its partnerships
with the airlines. A
spokesperson for Cathay
Pacific told TNW: “Cathay
Pacific does not comment
on market speculation.
The airline continuously
assesses opportunities
to expand its network
and flight scheduling in a
sustainable way.”
Meanwhile, Qantas
corporate communications
adviser, Will Lehnertz,
said there were no
current plans to extend
the existing relationship
between Qantas and SAA.
“Qantas maintains a good
relationship with SAA for
customers travelling
beyond the Johannesburg
gateway.”