South African Airways Increases Capacity to African Destinations by 17%

South African Airways has begun the process of adding additional flights between Johannesburg and popular African destinations. This increase in flight capacity has increased frequencies by 17%.

Johannesburg, South Africa –South African Airways (SAA) has announced that it has begun the process of adding additional frequencies to its network which will substantially increase air services to some of its key African routes.

The additional capacity injection answers the commercial mandate of the Long-Term Turnaround Strategy (LTTS), and is in response to positive market growth and demand.  As of yesterday, Harare (Zimbabwe) and Maputo (Mozambique) have included additional frequencies, with Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), Harare (Zimbabwe) and Mauritius to follow.“

The strengthening of these routes comes in the wake of positive load factors and increased traffic between the countries,” says SAA Acting Chief Executive Officer Nico Bezuidenhout. Presently, GDP growth in Mozambique (7% - African Development Bank) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (8.1%- African Development Bank) exceed World Bank growth statistics for the continent (4.7%-2013) while South Africa’s trade and demand for leisure and business travel to Mauritius is growing at a steady pace. “Air lift services traditionally lead GDP in all markets and also track the rate of increased leisure travel, investment and business engagement between South Africa and its continental peers.”

Operative from 1 December, SAA increased frequencies between Johannesburg and Maputo by 19%. The flights increased from 17 to 21 weekly frequencies while flights between Johannesburg and Harare increased from 18 to 19 every week (5%). From  4 December, flights between Johannesburg and Kinshasa will increase in capacity from 6 to 7 a week (6%) and, flights between Johannesburg and Mauritius from 9 to 10 weekly frequencies (9%). Updated schedules are available across all SAA distribution channels, including the website www.flysaa.com.

  For more information contact: SAA Spokesperson, Tlali Tlali  +27 82 333 3880 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

About South African Airways 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.