South African Airways strengthens route network

South African Airways (SAA) is committed to growing its international route network. “In keeping with our network strategy to fly to friendly international gateways and taking advantage of our Star Alliance members’ hubs, we will add Munich as a second German city to our network,” says Nomfanelo Magwentshu, General Manager Business Development.

SAA will wrap up its operations to Zurich, Switzerland, at the end of April, but will continue to maintain its presence in Zurich by leveraging alliances with fellow Star Alliance member carriers. This route will still be serviced through a code share agreement with Swiss International Air Lines, a Star Alliance member.

“This is the power of alliances to expand SAA’s international route network through a combination of own flights and strategic code share agreements,” says Magwentshu.

Besides expanding its route network to Europe, SAA will add exciting new destinations later this year to North and South America as well as to Africa. These new route developments will grow SAA’s international capacity by 8%.

The direct flights to Munich will start from 1 July, with three flights a week.

Munich is a major hub of Star Alliance member carrier Lufthansa. Munich will offer seamless connections to 63 destinations in Europe, including 17 destinations in Italy.

This new flight will broaden the SAA’s route network reach within Europe allowing it to tap into new business and tourists markets. Frankfurt flights are regularly full and the new Munich flights will strengthen SAA’s position in Germany.

Customers can also make use of any of SAA’s other European gateways such as London, Frankfurt and Paris.

SAA’s last flight out of Zurich will depart on April 30, 2007. SAA will accommodate customers holding tickets on SAA flights via Munich and through Star Alliance member airlines.

SAA will also launch destinations to Chicago (North America), from May as it is the largest hub of Star Alliance fellow member United Airlines and will offer seamless connections to 91 destinations in North America.

In South America, SAA will launch new flights to Buenos Aires in July 2007 with 3 flights per week, adding this city to Sao Paulo as a second entry point. These flights will offer good connections to 7 countries in South America, including Chile, Uruguay and Peru.

SAA customers may also soon be able to fly to a third South American destination, Rio de Janeiro, which the airline is currently looking at entering.

In Africa, SAA will launch a new destination Libreville in Gabon, and will start flying to Africa’s greatest tourist draw cards, such as Kilimanjaro, (from 7 July) to stimulate tourism into Africa.