Bookings are now open for SAA’s special seasonal schedule from Johannesburg to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth).

The airline says it is putting on two flights a day, seven days a week, commencing Wednesday, December 13, until Saturday, March 31, 2024. The schedule is still unknown.

The airline has a promotional one-way fare of R713 (€34.8) (G Class), available only until December 27. It is valid for travel for the whole seasonal period, from December 13 to March 31, 2024.

A member of the Nelson Mandela Bay Airlift Committee spoke to Tourism Update’s sister travel agent publication, Travel News, saying: “As South African Airways resumes seasonal operations to Gqeberha, it feels like a breath of fresh air for the city.

“We've been wrestling with sky-high airfares and scarce availability, thanks to capacity issues. Now, with SAA stepping in with added capacity, there's a palpable sense of optimism that it will assist in reducing our high load factors. Here's hoping this boost becomes a permanent fixture, making travel more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.”

‘Good news for the city’

Gqeberha travel agent, Rachael Penaluna, the Manager of Sure Maritime Travel, said the local travel industry was abuzz with the prospect of SAA’s flights.

“It’s very good news for the city. We currently have four flights a day from FlySafair and from Airlink. That’s just not enough and the flights are heavily booked. And if there are cancellations or delays with the flights, it often means an overnight stay in one or the other city.

“There are long gaps between the flights and the last one leaves Johannesburg after 18h00. That means that the biggest problem is the international flights into JNB often cannot connect and clients have to overnight in Johannesburg.

“A night flight from SAA from Jo’burg into Gqeberha would be excellent.”