SAA has unveiled details of the return of its direct flights to Perth. The start date is to be April 28, and it will operate three flights a week.

Bookings opened yesterday.

Professor John Lamola, SAA interim CEO, said in a statement that the airline’s operations to Perth were in line with its strategic plans to scale its long-haul intercontinental air connectivity.

The airline’s first intercontinental route from Cape Town to São Paulo opened on October 31 last year, followed by the second from Johannesburg to São Paulo, which commenced on November 6.

The Perth route is an important one for South Africa – currently traffic from South Africa to Australia most often goes with Qantas on the only direct flights available, via Sydney, which takes Perth-bound passengers an extra 3 300km (around three hours’ flying time) to the east coast. They are then obliged to fly the 3 300km back to Perth.

The airline says 80% of its target market will be VFR customers.

“The recommencement of the route provides an easier and direct passage for both leisure and business travellers, promoting trade and cultural exchange between South Africa and Australia.”

SAA pointed out that its membership of the Star Alliance enabled seamless travel for customers of the 25 airlines that are co-members of the alliance. Additionally, the airline says SAA Voyager members in Australia are eligible for the HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card which is administered from Australia. This affords those members additional opportunities to earn Voyager miles and attain Elite credit card status based on their spending.

SA 280 departs OR Tambo International Airport at 20h55 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, and arrives at Perth International Airport at 12h20 the following day. 

SA 281 departs Perth on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 14h40, arriving in Johannesburg at 19h35 the same day.

For the launch phase, the carrier will operate an Airbus A340-300, with a total seat capacity of 253 (38 business class seats and 215 economy seats).

“We are committed to growing SAA into a revered leader in the global aviation sector. Perth is but one indicator of this ambition and gives us confidence that our vision of expanding our footprint to over 20 destinations this year will be realised,” concludes Lamola.

The airline notes that the latest intercontinental routes will open up opportunities for industry to create Southern hemisphere travel packages, from Perth to São Paulo and São Paulo to Perth, with southern Africa in between.

In March 2023, Tebogo Tsimane, SAA Chief Commercial Officer, revealed to Tourism Update the airline’s intentions for its long-haul revival, naming Perth and São Paulo as the first desirable long-haul routes, and adding London, Frankfurt, Washington, New York and a second destination in Australia as other distant routes the airline wished to pursue.