QANTAS expects to expand its operations on the SA route to a daily service from Sydney to Johannesburg starting April 2009.
It is due to begin a sixth frequency on the SA route from November next year. The number of flights is currently dictated by Australia-South Africa air service agreements, which limit both sides to five flights a week.
According to Australian media, Qantas has applied to extend its codeshare agreement, signed in 2000 with SAA, and will also seek a larger allocation of seats “once SAA's planned upgrade of its air fleet takes place mid-2008”.
But, says SAA head group corporate affairs, Robyn Chalmers, SAA has no immediate plans to upgrade its fleet. However, she said SAA had identified Australia as a future growth market, and if the bilateral agreement between the two countries were changed to allow an increase in frequency on the route, SAA would put on additional flights.
Qantas will add seasonal increases in the form of six return B747-400 flights over the holiday period to the flights on which it codeshares with SAA from Sydney via Perth. The extra flights will operate on December 8, 15, and 22 and on January 5, 12 and 19. The flights leave Sydney 10h35, arriving in Perth at 13h20. They will depart Perth at 14h35 and arrive Johannesburg 18h05. Return flights will leave Johannesburg at 20h05, arriving in Perth at 12h10 the next day, departing Perth at 13h25, arriving in Sydney at 19h20.
