FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Dec 17, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- South African Airways has announced that it will operate new non-stop service from New York JFK to Johannesburg beginning May 1, 2009. Flight SA204, which will now depart at 11:35AM and arrive in Johannesburg at 8:45AM the following day, opens up a host of online connections, taking more travelers to more of Africa through SAA's Johannesburg hub.
The same-day connections feature flights to Botswana, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. As an African airline with global reach, SAA's unmatched African network will now make it possible to leave New York in the morning and connect throughout South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa as well as Africa's Indian Ocean islands, all with seamless connections. Within South Africa, SAA offers frequent service to cities such as Cape Town and Durban, and the new flight schedule will allow travelers to arrive at these popular cities mid-day. Coupled with SAA's commitment to excellence and its award-winning service, there is no better choice for service from the U.S. to Africa.
"Adjusting the New York flight to an earlier departure and operating it as a non-stop to Johannesburg means that business travelers and leisure travelers alike can start their business meetings or embark on their safaris even earlier, rather than having to spend the night in Johannesburg in order to catch a next-morning connection," said Marc Cavaliere, executive vice president, North America for South African Airways. "We are especially proud that our new non-stop flights are the fastest way to fly to South Africa and the earliest arrivals to South Africa and southern Africa. In addition, when you realize that passengers now have the ability to depart during the day from JFK, or during the evening from Washington, D.C., SAA is without question the airline that offers the most flexibility and the best connections to the most points throughout Africa."
Sthu Zungu, president, South African Tourism-North America expressed excitement about the new non-stop service. "We are thrilled with the addition of this new service out of New York, which offers a most convenient alternative for both our business and leisure travelers to South Africa. As we expand the market for South Africa in the U.S., it is important that the options for air travel also keep pace, and thanks to South African Airways, we are assured that this is indeed the case."
While SA204 will operate non stop to South Africa, flight SA203 returning from Johannesburg to New York will continue to make a brief stop in Dakar, Senegal, and will continue to depart from Johannesburg at 7:05PM arriving into JFK at 7:40AM the following morning. As part of the schedule adjustment, SAA will now offer service to Dakar, Senegal, from Washington, D.C., effective May 1. Flight SA208 will depart Washington Dulles at 5:40PM, arriving into Dakar at 5:55AM the following morning. Flight SA208 will then depart Dakar at 6:55AM and arrive into Johannesburg at 5:20PM that same day. Flight SA207 from Johannesburg to Washington will depart at 5:25PM, make a brief stop in Dakar, and arrive in Washington at 6:00AM the following day.
The new non-stop departures from New York will allow for easy, same-day connections from our Johannesburg hub to 23 destinations in sub-Saharan Africa: 1. Cape Town, South Africa 9. Libreville, Gabon 18. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
2. Durban, South Africa 10. Nairobi, Kenya 19. Entebbe, Uganda
3. East London, South Africa 11. Blantyre, Malawi 20. Livingstone, Zambia
4. George, South Africa 12. Lilongwe, Malawi 21. Lusaka, Zambia
5. Hoedspruit, South Africa 13. Walvis Bay, Namibia 22. Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
6. Nelspruit (Kruger 14. Windhoek, Namibia 23. Harare, Zimbabwe
Mpumalanga), South Africa 15. Beira, Mozambique
7. Port Elizabeth, South Africa 16. Maputo, Mozambique
8. Gaborone, Botswana 17. Pemba, Mozambique
The schedule change has also been hailed as wonderful news by other SAA travel and business partners from the US and from other African destinations already served by SAA.
Stephen Hayes, president of the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) views the new SAA service as a way to further strengthen the economic ties between Africa and the U.S. "Everyday, Africa becomes a more and more important economic partner with the United States. This new non-stop flight that South African Airways has launched will be the easiest way not only to South Africa, but to more of Africa from the U.S. than ever before. I am confident of the success of this new route and know that many members of the CCA were clamoring for better airline connections throughout Africa, and this new flight is exactly what was needed".
Peter Mwenguo, managing director, Tanzania Tourist Board, applauded SAA's move to provide same-day connections to Dar es Salaam. "The timing is excellent. Tanzania tourism is booming, and in 2007, we had more visitors from the U.S. than any other country worldwide. This new schedule from New York on SAA will be a big boost for American tour operators and travel agents. The Tanzania Tourist Board looks forward to working with SAA to promote this new route and the SAA Tanzania vacation packages."
The tourism board from Zambia is quite optimistic by SAA's schedule changes. "At the Zambia Tourism Board we are overjoyed to hear of this development. Same day connections will definitely make Zambia more accessible as travel time is reduced to a minimum, making travel packages to Zambia more attractive than before, since clients will not be required to spend an extra night in Johannesburg before proceeding to either Lusaka or Livingstone," said Margaret M. Makungo, director North America, Zambia Tourism Board.
South African Airways features the only nonstop service from the U.S. to South Africa with daily departures from Washington, D.C. (until April 30th, with a stop in Dakar commencing May 1), and daily direct service from New York (operating non stop effective May 1) that offer travel convenience and award-winning service. Travelers in premium class enjoy 180deg fully flat-bed seats, and in economy class enjoy the most legroom versus competitors. Every seat on board offers an individual on-demand entertainment system, plush pillow, warm blanket and amenity kit. SAA's unrivaled network, featuring seamless connections to more than 20 destinations within South Africa, and more than 20 cities across the rest of the continent, makes the airline the savvy traveler's "gateway to Africa." As a Star Alliance member, South African Airways is able to offer its customers 912 destinations in 159 countries and more than 16,500 flights daily, including convenient connections from more than 25 cities in the U.S. through code share service with Star Alliance member United Airlines. Members of United's Mileage Plus, US Airways' Dividend Miles and Air Canada's Aeroplan programs are able to earn and redeem miles on all SAA flights. For more information on South African Airways, please call (800) 722-9675 or visit http://www.flysaa.com/, where travelers can sign up to be notified of other great travel deals and vacation packages.
SOURCE: South African Airways South African Airways, Fort Lauderdale
Elizabeth Ninomiya, 954-769-5120
elizabethninomiya@flysaa.com
Copyright Business Wire 2008
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