South African Airways (SAA) and CemAir will begin a domestic codeshare agreement commencing from January 26. Together, they are expanding access to both regional and leisure destinations across South Africa. Through single-ticket itineraries and checked baggage transfer, the airlines aim to ease travel for customers.
Linking Major Hubs to Regional Markets
Notably, SAA serves South Africa’s major cities from Johannesburg to Cape Town, while CemAir focuses on smaller regional destinations. However, from January 26, the new codeshare will link SAA’s major routes like Johannesburg O.R. Tambo, Cape Town International, Durban King Shaka, and Port Elizabeth with CemAir’s leisure destinations, including George, East London, Margate, Kimberley, Hoedspruit, and Mala Mala. This move enables SAA access to South African markets where it has no direct service.
Passengers will be able to book integrated itineraries with through-checked baggage making connections between flights less stressful and more hassle-free.
Group CEO of SAA, Prof. John Lamola, labelled the partnership “a game-changer for domestic travel in South Africa”
“Unlike our international codeshares, this agreement focuses on connecting major cities with regional and leisure destinations that were previously beyond SAA’s reach. By combining our strengths with CemAir, we’re delivering greater flexibility, convenience, and choice for our customers, while supporting tourism and economic growth across the country,” Lamola added.
CemAir’s Role in Domestic Connectivity
CemAir is a privately owned South African airline has been in operations since 2005, the carrier provides scheduled flights with a fleet of regional jets and turboprops. CemAir’s network enhances SAA’s, as the regional carrier operates short-haul routes that can channel passengers into SAA’s central airports such as O.R. Tambo International. In working together, their partnership will facilitate ease of access for travelers across South Africa’s diverse landscape.
CEO of Cem Air, Miles van der Molen, welcomed the partnership, saying:
“This collaboration represents a shared vision to offer travelers better access, more flexibility and greater reliability. By combining our strengths, we are helping to create a stronger, more connected network that benefits both business and leisure travelers.”
The codeshare is implied to provide passengers with greater access across South Africa while strengthening the countries domestic air network.
Have you flown on a codeshare before? How do you think this partnership will affect domestic travel in South Africa? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
