South African Airways announced on Sunday that plan to launch a direct flight from Johannesburg and Guangzhou, China.
The direct flight is a strategy of the company to implement initiative which is aimed at enhancing its route network. The flight will be used as a gateway for customers who plan to do business with the manufacturing industries in the heart of China’s export.
Vuyani Jarana, the SAA CEO, said that the decision to launch this direct service between Johannesburg and Guangzhou means they remain on track in executing their strategy to transform SAA into a fit for the future airline that will operate both efficiently and competitively.
The new route is expected to cater to important travelers that include business and corporate guests. It will also attract the attention of traders that plans to do business between Johannesburg and China. Cargo operations in the route will complement its viability because Guangzhou is a source for high-value cargo.
The company is the only plane company that has direct service between Johannesburg and Guangzhou. It will provide travelers non-stop shortest travel between the two points. The flight will take approximately 13 hours and 40 minutes to complete.
The airway will allow three new flights per week to the manufacturing hub and it is expected to complement its current operations to Hong Kong. South African Airways will now fly four times per week to Hong Kong. The flights to Hong Kong and Guangzhou will be catered by the Airbus A340-300 aircraft.
Guangzhou is located in the Guangdong province in South China. it is the largest city in the region and the third largest in the whole of China following Beijing and Shanghai. The city acts as an important transportation hub and trading port.
Mr. Jarana said that adding a direct service to mainland China, combined with our current popular flights to Hong Kong provides SAA with immense growth opportunities to and from mainland China. It also gives our traders access to the center of Chinese manufacturing…
