China Eastern Airlines will begin flying the first-ever direct service between mainland China and South Africa with the launch of a Shanghai and Johannesburg service on April 27.
The new service will offer travellers from China’s largest commercial city a more convenient route when flying to South Africa for business or leisure without a flight transfer.
The Shanghai-to-Johannesburg flight will fly with an Airbus A340-300 each Tuesday and Friday with a one-hour stop in the Maldives. The return flight will be available on Wednesdays and Saturdays (local time).
Speaking about China Eastern’s maiden flight, Moeketsi Mosola, CEO of South African Tourism, said: “South African Tourism welcomes the move that will see China Eastern Airlines begin flying between Johannesburg and Shanghai. We have worked with our national Department of Transport in developing an airlift strategy aimed at making South Africa even more accessible to foreign markets and we are delighted that our efforts are paying off.
“We recognise the potential of the Chinese market and we are pleased to learn that one of China’s foremost airlines has displayed such interest and enthusiasm in encouraging travel between Johannesburg and Shanghai. This improved ease of accessibility can only bode well for increased arrivals from China to our unique destination. We wish China Eastern a long and successful association with South Africa.”
Before this flight, mainland Chinese tourists who wanted to fly to South Africa would have had to transfer flights through Hong Kong or Singapore.
“The opening of the Shanghai-Johannesburg flight is very significant. This not only makes the trip between China and South Africa more convenient and comfortable, but also offers one more choice for the tourists who want to travel to South Africa and other African countries,” said Yao Pei, general manager at North International Travel Agency, a key outbound tour operator in China.
Mango flies more
Meanwhile, South African low-cost airline Mango is to introduce additional daily flights between Johannesburg and Cape Town on week days, taking its capacity to seven daily flights between the two cities, with six daily on weekends.
CEO Nico Bezuidenhout said Mango’s high load factors — averaging above 75% — coupled with a growing demand for capacity on this route makes the introduction of an additional week-day frequency possible.
He said the airline’s sustainable low fares, its continually improving guest service and its 90%-on-time performance has contributed significantly to its rapid growth and popularity among South Africans.
The new frequency between Johannesburg and Cape Town will operate from May 7. — I-Net Bridge