By Forimmediaterelease.net
Published April 26, 2013
Air Seychelles, the national airline of the Republic of Seychelles, on April 26, 2013 announced that it has entered into a codeshare agreement with South African Airways (SAA), the national airline of the Republic of South Africa.
The first phase of the agreement will see South African Airways place its SA code on Air Seychelles non-stop flights between Johannesburg and Seychelles. South African Airways will also place its code on flights between the two largest islands of Seychelles, Mahe and Praslin, subject to approval.
Subsequent to the launch of the partnership between Air Seychelles and SAA, the airlines will look into expanding the agreement to include Air Seychelles placing its HM code on South African Airways non-stop flights between Johannesburg and destinations across South Africa.
Ticket sales are set to open on April 29, 2013 for travel from April 30, 2013.
The deal follows a strategic move by Air Seychelles to increase its connectivity throughout South Africa and continental Africa.
RELATED: Air Seychelles celebrates the start of flights to Hong Kong
In March 2013, Air Seychelles introduced an enhanced schedule and additional weekly service on its Johannesburg route, bringing the flights to three return services per week with daytime departures and arrivals. The new schedule greatly enhances leisure and business travellers ability to connect seamlessly on both airlines across Africa and South Africa, particularly to Cape Town and Durban.
Subject to regulatory approval, the airlines plan to expand the scope of this agreement to include frequent flyer programme reciprocity and more codeshare destinations on their respective networks.
Seychelles and South Africa established formal relations in 1993. Today, South Africa is Seychelles strongest African partner. Not only do the two countries share many mutual interests, but also have a strong bilateral partnership over and above their engagement with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union. South Africa is also supporting Seychelles in combating piracy and in its efforts to bring peace and stability in the region.
RELATED:Â Â British Airways Pulls Out of Tanzania
Tickets can be purchased online via airseychelles.com or flysaa.com. Alternatively, guests can purchase tickets through travel agents, the airlines sales offices, or by calling Air Seychelles call centre at +248 4 38 10 13 or South African Airways call center at +27 11 978 5313.
Cramer Ball, Air Seychelles Chief Executive Officer, says, Our flights to Johannesburg have been incredibly successful, reflecting an increasing number of travelers coming out of South Africa to the Seychelles for leisure, business, and sport. Traffic from South Africa has grown at a steady pace of 11% each year for the past decade. In the first quarter of this year alone, traffic is up 13%. With this codeshare agreement, guests will be able to purchase flights from South African Airways destinations onwards to the Seychelles on one ticket, making for a simpler and seamless journey. We have also established a foundation for twin-centre tourism products which combine a safari in Africa with a Seychelles beach holiday. SAA Holidays will also be adding Seychelles to their holiday program, providing a new channel for selling travel to our island nation and supporting the vitally important tourism industry.
RELATED:Â Why Hefty Salary Increment for Kenyan Parliamentarians is Unjustified
Manoj Papa, South African Airways General Manager for Commercial Affairs, says: This partnership signals a strategic move by both airlines to increase connectivity and grow their networks. This also augments SAAs already extensive African footprint. SAA currently flies directly to 26 destinations across Africa from its Johannesburg hub. Furthermore, the partnership adds breadth to our network, incorporating two additional destinations to the existing global partnership network which provides in excess of 1,329 destinations in 194 countries globally.With strategic partnerships such as this one, SAA is able to provide its passengers with more connections on the continent and across the globe.
Joel Morgan, Air Seychelles Chairman and Seychelles Minister for Home Affairs&Transport, says: This partnership between flag carriers strengthens the historic commercial, political, and cultural ties between the two countries. South Africa is a top trade partner for Seychelles, and we have seen a growing number of South African nationals coming for visits to our islands. Im delighted to establish this official partnership with South African Airways following a year of great change and achievement for our national carrier, particularly as 2013 marks 20 years of service to Johannesburg.
