South African Airways is extending its reach into Nigeria by adding flights to Abuja.
The addition of Abuja to SAA’s network follows the introduction of the Accra (Ghana)-Washington Dulles (USA) route, as a West African platform in August.
“A second entry point in Nigeria forms part of our long-term turnaround strategy, which identified growth on the African continent as one of its key objectives. Nigeria is one of the fastest growing air travel markets in sub-Saharan Africa and will be well served with our additional services to Abuja,” says Sylvain Bosc, SAA Chief Commercial Officer.
“Enhancing air travel links with Nigeria speaks to the growth in bilateral relations between South Africa and Nigeria. The two countries historically have had strong economic, diplomatic, social and fraternal ties,” says Aaron Munetsi, SAA Regional General Manager for Africa.
With Abuja, SAA will be serving 11 destinations in Central and West Africa, with flights from its Johannesburg hub to Lagos (Nigeria); Abidjan (Ivory Coast); Cotonou (Benin); Accra (Ghana); Douala (Cameroon), Dakar (Senegal), Libreville (Gabon), Kinshasa (DRC), Pointe Noire and Brazzaville (Republic of the Congo).
The three weekly flights will operate non-stop between Johannesburg and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja aboard an Airbus 330-200s.
The first flight is scheduled to depart O.R. Tambo International Airport on 26 January 2016.