The latest addition to SAA’s fleet, the A330-200, has begun operating to Mumbai, India.
This highlights SAA’s commitment to this route by offering an enhanced product to its valued customers.
Theunis Potgieter, GM Commercial, says: “The A330-200 aircraft is operating the Johannesburg-Mumbai route much sooner than scheduled.
“Over and above providing connectivity, our valued customers can look forward to an enhanced product and the added comfort and convenience offered by this impressive aircraft.”
The A340-200s previously serviced this route and will be replaced by the efficient A330-200 aircraft. SAA received its first A330-200 in February and its second in March. The first aircraft is already operating commercially to London.
SAA, Africa’s most awarded airline, will receive an additional four Airbus A330-200 aircraft every second month from July, with the final A330-200 delivered at the end of December.
These modern aircraft offer supreme ergonomics, an airy open cabin, and sophisticated, personal touch-screen entertainment systems featuring Bollywood films.
For the comfort of customers, lie-flat beds are offered in business class, while economy class features a more spacious cabin.
l The merger between British Airways and Iberia to form the International Airlines Group is already starting to deliver benefits for the airlines’ South African customers.
Together the two carriers fly to over 200 destinations and operate more than 400 aircraft from two of the biggest hubs in Europe.
Added to this is the considerable network of joint-business partner, American Airlines.
Practically, this means more routes, better schedules and more convenience and flexibility.
The airlines are integrating their sales forces in some shared markets around the world.
South Africa is one of these and from the beginning of June, we have been served by a joint sales team.
Customers will be able to speak to local market specialists who are equipped to offer them the most competitive rates and provide access to an array of flight options that encompass both British Airways and Iberia routes and aircraft.
“Our priority is to preserve and leverage the combined market knowledge and skills of both sales teams. The changes mean the travel trade and customers will get the best of both worlds, with access to combined experience, expertise, fares and schedules,” says Sue Botes, British Airways’ commercial manager in South Africa.
In South Africa, British Airways and Iberia have aligned their fares, making it simpler and easier to plan routing and make bookings on either airline. The fare alignment has resulted in savings on some flights.
Journeys can be booked on all three carriers, either through the call centre of any of the airlines’ websites, and sectors can be mixed and matched. This means a choice of British Airways, Iberia and American Airlines flights, depending on the itinerary and destination.
The merger has already opened up a number of routes to Latin America, via London and Madrid, with customers able to choose from British Airways and Iberia services to and from Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Iberia’s flights to Havana now carry the BA code.
Members of all three airlines’ frequent flyer programmes have been receiving awards and benefits on each of the carriers for some time, but now companies participating in British Airways’ On Business programme can also earn points on a number of American Airlines and Iberia codeshare flights. - Saturday Star