Pretoria - South African Airways (SAA) has entered into a code share agreement with Virgin Australia.
The national carrier flies daily between Johannesburg and Perth with the new partnership offering SAA customers expanded access across Australia to domestic destinations like Melbourne and Brisbane.
“Through the code share agreement with Virgin Australia, our valued customers will gain new travel choices to primary markets across Australia via Virgins’ extensive network and hubs in Perth and Melbourne, providing seamless travel, and earning of miles through the Voyager frequent flyer programme,” Kendy Phohleli, SAA acting General Manager Commercial said on Thursday.
The code share is open for sale from tomorrow, 7 February onwards, for travel from next Tuesday.
Virgin Australia has been an interline partner of SAA since July 2010, where the two airlines had a commercial agreement to handle those customers travelling on both airlines. SAA is now expanding this relationship into a code share agreement.
“This new partnership forms part of Gaining Altitude, our Long-Term Turnaround Strategy, which seeks to broaden SAA’s network through alliances and strategic partnerships.
“Implementing a code share agreement with Virgin Australia offers our customers travelling on SAA to Perth, Australia, more travel options to other Australian cities. We are looking forward to strengthening our partnership with Virgin Australia through this new code share agreement,” explained Phohleli.
Customers will also have the benefit of through checking their baggage and receiving boarding passes from Johannesburg to their end destination in Australia, and onto any destination in Africa served by SAA when flying from Australia.
Tickets for the new code share flights can be purchased online at www.flysaa.com, through travel agents, the airlines’ sales offices, or South African Airways’ call centre at +27 11 978 5313. - SAnews.gov.za
