09 October 2015

South African Airways Announces Code Share Agreement with Air China

Submitted by: Fiona Salvage

South African Airways (SAA) now offers passengers the option to fly direct to Beijing through a new code share agreement with Air China, effective 29 October 2015.  

Johannesburg, 7 September 2015 - South African Airways (SAA) has announced a code share agreement with Air China (CA) that will enable SAA to jointly market Air China’s newly inaugurated non-stop service between Johannesburg and Beijing as well as points beyond Beijing to Chengdu, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Chongqing. Air China will, in turn, market SAA’s services from Johannesburg to Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth. The code share arrangement is already open for sale, for travel effective 29 October 2015.

Subsequent to the successful launch of the partnership between Air China and SAA in March 2012 when SAA launched its services to Beijing, the parties have looked into expanding the partnership on Air China’s non-stop flights between Johannesburg and Beijing and onward destinations across China.  With this codeshare agreement, travellers will be able to purchase flights from any South African Airways’ destinations onwards to China on one ticket, making for a simpler and seamless journey.

“The agreement will effectively enhance flight choices for customers, whether originating in Africa or China, through added connection opportunities, affordable fare options and convenience,” said Sylvain Bosc, SAA’s Chief Commercial Officer.

Both airlines are Star Alliance members, an alliance offering a network unlike any other; with 28 member airlines providing over 18,500 flights a day to over 1,330 destinations in more than 192 countries around the world.

The deal signals a strategic move by Air China to inaugurate services to the African continent and for SAA to further increase its connectivity in through its already extensive African footprint. With strategic partnerships such as this one, SAA is able to connect its passengers to even more destinations on the continent and across the globe. This partnership between the flag carriers strengthens historic commercial, political and cultural ties between the two countries. Currently China is South Africa’s largest trade partner.

“The enhancement of partnerships between airlines nurtures economic activity, with domestic and regional benefits within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as well as the international benefit which is realised through BRICS countries’ initiatives, expected to pay dividends both in terms of trade and tourism,” added Bosc. “This code share agreement with Air China is meant to support those initiatives and benefit both the African and Chinese interests, and other BRICS countries, such as Brazil, who will now have easy and convenient access to China through Johannesburg.”

“Being BRICS countries, China and South Africa are having much closer relationships in terms of economy and trade in recent years and China has become the largest trade partner of South Africa. The opening of Beijing-Johannesburg is part of Air China’s important strategic initiatives for promoting exchanges between the two countries and further improve Air China’s global route network with Beijing as its hub. The cooperation between the two flag carriers will help expand each other’s global network so as to provide more convenience and more choices for passengers, and meanwhile, explore more opportunities in the exchange and development of trade and culture between China and South Africa, as well as enhance cooperative partnership between Asia and Africa,” said Wang Mingyuan, Air China’s Senior Vice President.

For more information about the code share services offered by SAA and Air China, please call SAA reservations at +2711 978 1111 or visit http://www.flysaa.com/za/en. .-endswww.flysaa.com- Issued by: SAA Group Corporate Affairs

About South African Airways:
South African Airways (SAA) is the leading carrier in Africa, serving 56 destinations, in partnership with SA Express, SA Airlink and its low cost carrier, Mango, within South Africa and across the continent, and nine intercontinental routes from its Johannesburg hub. It is a member of the largest international airline network, Star Alliance. SAA’s core business is the provision of passenger airline and cargo transport services together with related services, which are provided through SAA and its wholly owned subsidiaries: SAA Technical; Mango its low cost carrier; and Air Chefs, the catering entity of SAA. SAA is the winner of the 'Best Airline in Africa’ Award in the regional category for thirteen consecutive years and the winner of ‘Service Excellence Africa’ for three years. Mango and SAA hold the number one and number two successive spots as South Africa’s most on - time airlines.

About Air China:
Air China is China’s only national flag carrier and a member carrier of the world’s largest airline network – Star Alliance.  By Jul 2015, Air China had a fleet of 523 passenger aircraft and freighters of mainly Boeing and Airbus families (Including those of the carriers which Air China has majority stake in).  It operates 349 routes, including 87 international routes, 16 regional routes and 246 domestic routes. It serves 168 cities in 35 countries and regions, including 58 international cities, 4 regional cities and 106 domestic cities.  Every week, Air China offers over 1.47 million seats on over 7700 flights per week.  Utilising its extensive route network and its hub in Beijing, especially after its admission to the Star Alliance, Air China can fly passengers to 1.328 airports in 195 countries.  PhoenixMiles, Air China’s customer loyalty programme created in 1994, is Asia’s only frequent flyer programme shared by a number of carriers.  Air China’s customer service philosophy revolves around four elements: credibility, convenience, comfort, and choice.  Hard work over the years has resulted in a tremendous increase in Air China’s brand value.  In 2013, Air China ranked again as one of the world’s top 500 brands with a brand value of RMB 91.899 billion, and was the only Chinese carrier on the World Brands 500 list.

For more, visit Air China’s official website www.airchina.com or call Air China’s hotline 95583.  

South African Airways is a Star Alliance member that offers flights to 38 destinations worldwide. Domestically, SAA operates 544 flights a week between Johannesburg – Cape Town, Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth. Regionally SAA offers 24 destinations across the African continent and its international network creates links to all major continents from South Africa through 10 direct routes. In the regional category, SAA has received the Skytrax ‘Best Airline in Africa’ Award for 11 consecutive years.