South African Airways Celebrates 10 Years of Service between Washington D.C and Africa

The airline celebrates this milestone with a sale on flights between Washington DC and select destinations in Africa.

JOHANNESBURG, July 2015 - South African Airways (SAA) celebrates 10 years of service between African and Dulles International Airport, Washington D.C.

SAA introduced a new service between Johannesburg, South Africa and Washington D.C. on 2nd July 2005, with four flights per week. This venture rapidly grew to an offering of a daily service on the route. In 2006, SAA introduced a service to Dakar, Senegal, continuing onward to Johannesburg, providing daily flights from the U.S. to Dakar, a convenient gateway to West Africa.  SAA is also the only Skytrax 4-Star rated airline that flies between the U.S. and Africa, providing award-winning, world-class service.

To celebrate this milestone anniversary, South African Airways offered a 10% discount* on all fares on flights from Washington D.C. – Dulles to Johannesburg, Accra, Dakar, Cape Town and Durban. This special fare ran between the 1 – 5 July and saw many passengers make the most of the celebratory sale.

Over the past 10 years, SAA has carried nearly 1.5 million passengers between Washington, D.C. and Africa, and has recently announced the expansion of its network in West Africa. On 3rd August 2015, SAA will launch a new nonstop service between Washington, D.C.-Dulles International Airport and Accra’s Kotoka International Airport, operating four days per week.

“Our Washington route is one of the reasons why SAA is the predominant airline from the U.S. to Africa today,” said Nico Bezuidenhout, SAA Acting CEO.

“Passengers travelling between Dulles International Airport and Africa deserve award-winning service and convenient schedules, and we are proud to have been serving them for ten years. We look forward to welcoming more and more customers on board and offering them our unique blend of African hospitality.”

Dulles International Airport, Washington D.C., also serves as a major gateway and connecting point in the U.S. for South African Airways passengers, with code share service that is offered to over 30 cities in the U.S. and Canada through its Star Alliance partner, United Airlines.

“For ten years, the partnership between Washington Dulles International Airport and SAA has provided world-class travel opportunities and experiences between South Africa and the Washington, D.C., region,” said Mark Treadaway, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Vice President for Air Service Planning and Development.

“Now, with the upcoming addition of nonstop service between Dulles International and Accra, Ghana, one of this region’s most important African travel destinations will further strengthen the ties between the United States and Africa for decades to come.”

SAA’s gateway at Washington, D.C.-Dulles International Airport has helped to foster new business, trade and tourism development between the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and Africa. Direct connectivity between both regions has been essential for existing investment and will continue to be pivotal for future economic growth. Over the last decade, the route has been popular with business and leisure travellers alike, creating a convenient way for more people to discover Africa as a land of opportunities and scenic wonders.

For reservations and information on flights between Africa and Washington D.C., customers should visit www.flysaa.com or contact South African Airways’ North America Reservations Center at 1-(800) 722-9675 FREE, or their professional travel consultant.

About

South African Airways (SAA), South Africa’s national flag carrier and the continent’s most awarded airline, serves 67 destinations worldwide in partnership with SA Express, Airlink and its low cost carrier Mango. In North America, SAA operates daily nonstop flights from New York-JFK and direct flights from Washington D.C.-IAD (via Accra, Ghana** and Dakar, Senegal) to Johannesburg. SAA has codes share agreements with United Airlines, Air Canada and JetBlue Airways, which offer convenient connections from more than 30 cities to SAA’s flights. SAA is a Star Alliance member and the recipient of the Skytrax 4-Star rating for 13 consecutive years.

**Flights between Washington, DC-Dulles Airport and Accra, Ghana begin August 3, 2015

Issued by SAA Group Corporate Affairs

For media information, please contact:SAA SpokespersonTlali TlaliEmail: TlaliTlali@flysaa.comMobile:+27 82 333 3880Office: +27 11 978 2298