Pretoria - South African Airways (SAA) has improved to flight times to Beijing, China, effective as of this week.
“Following recent extensive negotiations with the Chinese authorities, the airline’s schedule to Beijing now offers improved arrival and departure times to and from Beijing, effective 1 May 2014, with the flight departing about four hours earlier in Johannesburg and arriving four hours earlier in Beijing,” said SAA.
The first flight following the improved schedule departed from Johannesburg on Wednesday.
Flying time between Johannesburg and Beijing is about 15 hours.
For South Africa, the Beijing route is strategically important as demonstrated by bilateral trade between China and South Africa, which has increased significantly over the previous five years.
Between 2010 and 2013, foreign direct investments have grown. According to the Department of Trade and Industry, total trade between South Africa and China has been increasing significantly for the previous five years from R118 billion in 2009 to R263 billion in 2013.
Tourism has also grown and China is now the fourth largest inbound tourism market to South Africa, after Germany and the fastest growing market with approximately 134 000 arrivals in 2013. China last year recorded more that 80 million outbound travellers, with South Africa only having a tiny market share demonstrating considerable potential for growth.
“The airline’s network, alliance and fleet strategy form a key pillar of our Gaining Altitude Strategy, and we are continuously seeking ways of improving our network offering.
“We were therefore most pleased to be afforded better arrival and departure times for our Beijing flights which will make it easier for our customers to catch connecting flights to other destinations within China and into the rest of Africa,” Acting SAA General Manager: Commercial Kendy Phohleli said.
SAA is also in the process of expanding its code share relationship with its Star Alliance partner airline in China, Air China, after introducing this code share in March 2012.
“We are working closely with Air China for enhanced cooperation on our existing code share and interline which will expand our presence in the Chinese market. The new arrival and departure times in Beijing will allow SAA passengers connectivity to additional cities in China,” said Phohleli.
The code share agreement between SAA and Air China complements the non-stop service between Johannesburg and Beijing. The agreement enhances flight choices for customers, whether originating in Africa or China, through seamless connections and frequent flyer mileage opportunities.
This initiative is in keeping with SAA’s close cooperation with Brand SA, the South African Department of Tourism and the mission in China to increase trade and tourism to South Africa.
China is one of South Africa’s largest trade partners and the establishment of aviation links between nations nurtures economic activity, with domestic and regional benefit within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), as many traders from Africa travel to China via Johannesburg.
In January 2012, SAA introduced three weekly non-stop flights to Beijing following a comprehensive strategic partnership forged between the two countries. - SAnews.gov.za
