Johannesburg to Gqeberha: New SAA route to begin next month
South African Airways (SAA) has announced that their new local route connecting Johannesburg and Gqeberha will take off this December.
A NEW SEASONAL ROUTE FOR SAA
After almost a full year later, South African Airways (SAA) has revealed that they are ready to go ahead with their promised Johannesburg-Gqerberha route.
Last year in December, the airline had announced direct flights between the two cities ahead of the festive season, but due to a lengthy regulatory approval process, SAA had to unfortunately put the route on hold.
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Now, according to Travel News, bookings for the new seasonal route are now open and will kick off from 13 December 2023 until 31 March 2024.
The airline has revealed that there will be two flights a day, seven days a week, although the schedule is still not known.
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A member of the Nelson Mandela Bay Airlift Committee told Travel News that the seasonal operations to Gqeberha feels like a breath of fresh air for the city.
“We’ve been wrestling with sky-high airfares and scarce availability, thanks to capacity issues. Now, with SAA stepping in with added capacity, there’s a palpable sense of optimism that it will assist in reducing our high load factors. Here’s hoping this boost becomes a permanent fixture, making travel more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.” the spokesperson said.
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NEW INTERCONTINENTAL ROUTE
SAA also recently set off into international skies again, with their inuagural flight from Cape Town to São Paulo, Brazil.
The new route took off yesterday, 31 October 2023 from Cape Town International Airport with much pomp and ceremony as it marked a major milestone for the airline.
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The route will set out from both Cape Town and Johannesburg four times a week. The second intercontinental flight, between Johannesburg and São Paulo will commence on Monday, 6 November 2023.
According to the schedule, flights from Cape Town will go out on Tuesdays and Saturdays, while Johannesburg flights are scheduled for Mondays and Thursdays.