Johannesburg, 8 March 2012 .SAA has introduced yet another route to its African route network as part of plans to focus growth in Africa.
Effective 17 May 2012 the airline’s new route to Pointe Noire in the Congo - which was introduced from 26 January – will be extended to also include Cotonou in Benin.
Cotonou will be served twice a week with an A319 aircraft. The flights are already available for sale in SAA’s reservations system.
“Adding even more new routes to our African route network demonstrates our commitment to growth on the continent. Our aim remains to continue exploring possibilities for our customers who travel between countries on the continent for business or tourism,” says Theunis Potgieter, SAA General Manager Commercial.
Cotonou will be the fifth new destination on the continent that the airline has introduced since October last year. Ndola (Zambia), Kigali (Rwanda), Bujumbura (Burundi) and Pointe Noire (Congo) were other recent additions to its expansive route network in Africa.
SAA also has flying rights between Point Noire and Cotonou and introducing Cotonou as an add-on flight on the newly opened route between Johannesburg and Point Noire, allows the airline to also serve this market. The flights have been timed to ensure easy connections with the rest of SAA’s route network.
Cotonou is the economic capital of Benin and the country’s largest city. In addition to being Benin's largest city, it houses several of its government and diplomatic services including the Beninese seat of government.
International relations have been strengthened between South Africa and Benin with the state visit by President Yayi of Benin by invitation of President Zuma in November 2011.
Schedule Johannesburg - Point Noire - Cotonou
|
Flight
|
Days
|
From
|
Departs
|
To
|
Arrives
|
|
SA082
|
Thursday
Sunday
|
Johannesburg
|
09h40
|
Pointe Noire
|
13h05
|
|
Pointe Noire
|
14h05
|
Cotonou
|
16h40
|
|
Return
|
|
SA083
|
Friday
Monday
|
Cotonou
|
09h20
|
Pointe Noire
|
12h00
|
|
Pointe Noire
|
13h00
|
Johannesburg
|
18h10
|
Issued by:
Dileseng Koetle
Acting Head Group Corporate Affairs
Tel: +27 11 978 2298
Mobile: +27 83 400 0041
Email: DilesengKoetle@flysaa.com or media@flysaa.com
Web: www.flysaa.com
About SAA
South African Airways (SAA) is the leading carrier in Africa, serving 20 destinations across the continent, as well as major destinations within South Africa, from its hub, Johannesburg. 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 four wholly owned subsidiaries: SAA Technical; Mango its low cost carrier; Air Chefs, the catering entity of SAA and South African Travel Centre (SATC). SAA CEO Siza Mzimela is the first woman to be appointed into the IATA Board of Governors in its 67 year history. SAA is the winner of the 'Best Airline in Africa’ Award in the regional category for 9 consecutive years and the winner of ‘Service Excellence Africa’ for two consecutive years. Mango and SAA hold the number one and number two successive spots as South Africa’s most on time airlines.