New flight route to Johannesburg launching
South African Airways (SAA) is set to launch a new flight route from its hub in Johannesburg, to Dar es Salaam today, 20 January.
South African Airways is set to launch a new flight route from its Johannesburg hub this evening.
South Africa’s national carrier will launch scheduled flights to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania from Monday 20 January.
SAA FLIGHT ROUTE FROM JOHANNESBURG
The route between OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam will be operated daily.
SAA’s interim CEO, Professor John Lamola, said that the relaunch of the Dar es Salaam route is part of the company’s strategic plan to strengthen its presence across the African continent.
Lamola reflected on the significance of the relaunched flight route saying, “This flight is not simply a milestone for SAA and linking Johannesburg and Dar es Salaam through air travel; it heralds a bridge that connects two of Africa’s most influential economies and strengthens the friendship between our nations.”
SCALING UP CAUTIOUSLY
The airline, which celebrated its 90th anniversary last year, is slowly rebuilding its route network.
African destinations are key to SAA’s strategy so the addition of new flights on the Dar es Salaam route comes after careful consideration.
South African Airways has previously offered flights on this route but these have not been operated since the airline relaunched services in September 2021.
In November last year, SAA also expanded services to Harare in Zimbabwe and Lusaka in Zambia, to 12 flights per week. This increase significantly boosts the airline’s presence in these destinations.
It also increased the number of trips to Lagos, Nigeria, and Accra, Ghana, from three to four, and it is now flying to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo five times per week.
DAR ES SALAAM
TopAuto states that Dar es Salaam is the largest city in East Africa by population size.
It is also an important regional, economic, and logistics hub.
The city is also a gateway for visitors wishing to travel to popular holiday destinations including Zanzibar and many national parks.
Additionally, South Africa accounts for a significant portion of foreign direct investment in Tanzania, with the two countries having an established trade in agricultural products, precious metals, chemicals, and machinery.