South African Airways has announced its first intercontinental direct and non-stop flight route to São Paulo, Brazil, since returning to the skies after the Covid-19 lockdown and successfully emerging from an intensive Business Rescue process.
Bookings opened for sale yesterday, 29 June, with launch flights out of Cape Town commencing on Tuesday 31 October and from Johannesburg on Monday, 6 November 2023.
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The state-owned airline will fly to Guarulhos International Airport in São Paulo four times a week, twice out of Cape Town on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and twice out of Johannesburg on Mondays and Thursdays.
The announcement comes as South Africa is set to host the XV BRICS Summit in Johannesburg later this year to discuss issues of mutual interest, including economic cooperation, trade, investment and political coordination.
Interim CEO, Professor John Lamola expressed the airlines excitement and added that the direct flight route marks the return of SAA’s long-haul service out of Cape Town.
‘Our decision to begin the relaunch of our long-haul service with São Paulo was taken based on a rigorous analysis of the viability of the route,’ said Lamola in a statement. ‘Sustainability has been at the heart of SAA’s approach since our restart.’
As reported by Money Web, the airline last had a direct flight to Brazil in early 2020, flying only from Johannesburg.
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The direct connection has been a work-in-progress for the Cape Town Air Access team for five years now. Official spokesperson for the Cape Town Air Access initiative, Wrenelle Stander added that the organisation is thrilled to see its efforts to boost the recovery of Latin American traffic to Cape Town come to fruition.
Western Cape Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities Mireille Wenger has also welcomed the announcement. She said the new route will help strengthen economic ties between Western Cape and Brazil and opens up immense opportunities for enhanced tourism, trade and investment.
Sharing the sentiment, SAA’s Chief Commercial Officer Tebogo Tsimane said São Paulo is an ideal destination for both business and leisure with its vast selection of first-rated museums, cultural centres and well-served transport networks.
‘We have created an effective schedule which is ideal for both business and leisure travellers and our schedule is fantastic for connecting traffic’ to Brazil’s most populous city and one of the biggest financial hubs in the world.
Besides São Paulo, the airline is reportedly considering re-establishing a route to Perth in Australa. It has recently recommenced several of its key regional routes into Africa.
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Picture: Siphiwe Sibeko / Gallo Images