The Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) welcomed new flight routes and additional flights to several of its airports across the country on Tuesday, coinciding with the start of October Transport Month.
Acsa said it was excited as these flights would connect passengers to opportunities and destinations.
“ACSA welcomes these new developments which are a testament to the continued successful collaboration enjoyed with our partners in the aviation, economic, and tourism sectors. We look forward to connecting travellers to their next destinations and facilitating passengers and crew members through our airports,” said ACSA spokesperson Ernest Mulibana.
Mulibana said Acsa is actively developing new flight route opportunities to enhance connectivity between sister countries on the continent and around the world.
“These will not only propel the company’s efforts to accelerate recovery to pre-Covid-19 levels but enhance integration in the region, providing greater convenience and flexibility for travellers.”
Air Botswana will launch an inaugural flight between Gaborone and Durban, with a direct flight to King Shaka International Airport on 11 October. The airline will operate three times a week, on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
From 1 November, British Airways will increase flight frequency between Cape Town and Heathrow for the summer season (November 2024 - March 2025). The airline, which currently offers a daily service from London Heathrow, will have an additional daily service from 11 January 2025, bringing the total up to 21 weekly flights.
The British Airways Cape Town Heathrow route will replace the carrier's three weekly seasonal service from London Gatwick, which will now only operate between 14 December 2024 and 8 January 2025.
Norse Atlantic Airways will commence a low-cost service between London Gatwick and CTIA, with three seasonal weekly flights starting on October 28, 2024. The flight is scheduled to arrive in Cape Town at 09:30 and depart for London Gatwick at 11:45 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
Mulibana said air connectivity between South Africa and the United Kingdom is a crucial link, fostering strong economic, cultural, and tourism ties between the two nations. Currently, British Airways operates two daily flights, and Virgin Atlantic operates one daily flight between O.R. Tambo International Airport and London Heathrow.
Additionally, FlySafair is set to launch its first international route between Cape Town and Windhoek, Namibia, starting on 22 October 2024, with two weekly flights on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
From 5 November 2024, South African Airways will increase flights between Johannesburg and Harare to 12 per week, while plans indicate an increase in Johannesburg-Perth flights to four per week from 8 December 2024.
The Mercury