SAA, Etihad start codeshare services
Following regulatory approval, South African Airways (SAA) has initiated codesharing services with United Arab Emirates’ (UAE's) national carrier Etihad Airways, which enables both carriers to offer codeshare and interline services to key destinations on each airline’s route network.
Under the first phase of the codeshare agreement, SAA customers could now access SAA-marketed flights on Etihad Airways scheduled services from Johannesburg to its hub in Abu Dhabi, and onwards across the airline’s global network to Bahrain, Kuwait, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur.
Other major destinations currently pending regulatory approval included Shanghai, Singapore and Jeddah.
In return, Etihad Airways customers could now travel on Etihad Airways-marketed flights from Johannesburg to four major destinations on the SAA network, including Cape Town, Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth.
Codesharing on scheduled services to other key destinations, including Livingstone, Lusaka, Ndola, Harare and Victoria Falls was currently pending, subject to government approval.
Phase two of a memorandum of understanding, which was signed in May, made provision for the airlines to explore areas of further commercial synergies and collaboration, which could provide cost savings and operational efficiencies.
This could include reciprocal frequent flyer programme participation, ground handling, procurement and training.
SAA acting commercial GM Manoj Papa said the airline was confident the partnership would prove popular with business and leisure travellers.
“Passengers can now take advantage of the greater choice and seamless connectivity across our combined networks and markets,” he said in a statement.
Etihad Airways chief strategy and planning officer Kevin Knight added that increasing the airline’s reach into Southern Africa was critical to it meeting the demand from a growing number of passengers travelling between Africa and major emerging markets in the Middle East, Asia, the Indian subcontinent and Australia.
“The partnership agreement with South African Airways reflects our strategy of forming alliances with airlines around the world to enhance the global reach of our network,” he said.
Etihad Airways launched its service between the UAE and South Africa in 2005.
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