South African Airways (SAA) is celebrating a major milestone with the announcement of its first intercontinental route since resuming operations in September 2021. The airline will soon offer flights to São Paulo, Brazil, from both Johannesburg and Cape Town. Commencing on October 31 from Cape Town and November 6 from Johannesburg, these highly anticipated flights are now open for bookings.
SAA will operate four weekly flights to Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) in São Paulo. The schedule includes two flights departing from Cape Town on Tuesdays and Saturdays, as well as two flights departing from Johannesburg on Mondays and Thursdays. During the Northern Hemisphere winter season (October to December), flight SA 0226 will depart Cape Town at 12:55 and arrive in São Paulo at 16:35. The return flight, SA 0227, will depart São Paulo at 18:05 and arrive in Cape Town at 06:40 the following morning. From Johannesburg, flight SA 0222 will depart at 11:20 and arrive in São Paulo at 16:15. The return flight, SA 0223, will depart São Paulo at 17:45 and arrive in Johannesburg at 07:45 the next morning.
Tebogo Tsimane, SAA's Chief Commercial Officer, expressed excitement about the new route, stating, "We have created an effective schedule that caters to both business and leisure travelers. Our schedule is fantastic for connecting traffic." Tsimane also highlighted the benefits for SAA Voyager members, who can earn miles at a high rate when flying on SAA-operated flights. Each Rand (R1) spent will earn one SAA Voyager mile, contributing to Elite status.
São Paulo, Brazil's vibrant and populous city with over 21.1 million residents, serves as the country's financial center and is one of the world's prominent financial hubs. It offers an ideal destination for both business and leisure travelers, boasting exceptional museums, cultural centers, theaters, and a lively nightlife.
Professor John Lamola, SAA's interim CEO, expressed joy about the new route, remarking, "We are overjoyed to announce São Paulo as our first international destination since successfully emerging from an intensive business rescue process and the COVID-19 lockdown. This also marks the return of our long-haul services out of Cape Town. Our decision to relaunch with São Paulo was based on a rigorous analysis of the route's viability, keeping sustainability at the heart of SAA's approach since our restart."
To facilitate operations in Brazil, SAA has appointed Air Promotion Group (APG) as its General Sales Agent (GSA).
Exciting times lie ahead as SAA expands its horizons and reconnects South Africa with global destinations, fostering new opportunities for travel and exploration.