Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – The inaugural South African Airways’ (SAA) direct flight between Johannesburg and Lubumbashi in the DRC, took off from OR Tambo International Airport and landed safely at Luano International Airport on Monday.
The new route’s schedule of five weekly flights accommodates both point-to-point and connecting passengers. South Africa and the DRC share a strong trade relationship, with exports from South Africa to the DRC growing significantly over the past few years.
“Direct air connectivity between the two nations will nurture this trade relationship and strengthen it to the benefit of both nations and the broader continental economy,” SAA said in a statement.
The A320 aircraft that services the new route offers superior belly cargo capacity to meet the requirements of the continental mining, infrastructure and industrial sectors.
SAA will also operate 12 weekly flights to both Harare and Lusaka, up from the current 10 times a week to Harare and up from seven to Lusaka. Flights to Lagos and Accra will increase to four times a week, up from three weekly flights. SAA will also increase its flights to Mauritius in December and to Perth in January next year.
-0- PANA CU/MA 5Nov2024
