South African Airlines spread their wings
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – South African Airways (SAA) and Air Mauritius have been granted permission to form a joint venture on the route between Johannesburg and Mauritius as well as other related routes. This was confirmed by the Competition Commission on Thursday.
The two leading airlines will pool the revenue and costs associated with the provision of commercial passenger and cargo services on the route between Mauritius and Johannesburg and related destinations.
The agreement will also enable both airlines to access new markets, which may not have been economically feasible in the past.
"It is expected that the joint venture will equally benefit the South African economy as it will lead to increased foreign currency earnings, improved capacity utilisation and employment, increased passenger numbers, increased cargo capacity and increasing the route network in new markets," the Commission said in a statement received by PANA.
Separately, SAA has announced that it will commence flights from Johannesburg to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, effective 18 November. It will operate daily flights between the cities and a second flight on Fridays.
In other developments, United Airlines will begin new direct flights between Cape Town and New York from 15 December. The non-stop 12,600km flight will take 14 hours and will operate three times a week.
-0- PANA CU/MA 24Oct2019
