South African Airways (SAA) has announced the resumption of its direct service between Johannesburg and Perth, offering flights three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. The flights, operated by an SAA Airbus A340-300 aircraft, depart Johannesburg at 8.55pm and arrive in Perth at 12.20pm the next day. The return flights from Perth to Johannesburg will depart on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 2.40pm, arriving at OR Tambo International Airport at 7.35pm the following day.
The relaunch of the Johannesburg-Perth route is seen as a strategic move for SAA, providing passengers with direct intercontinental air connectivity between South Africa and Australia. Australia has become an increasingly popular destination for South Africans, both for leisure and business travel.
SAA CEO Professor John Lamola emphasized the significance of the route relaunch, marking the airline’s recovery and strategic repositioning post-Covid-19. Lamola highlighted the social and economic impacts of the route, noting the importance of connecting families and contributing to economic development through increased air connectivity.
The resumption of the Perth route is expected to bring in over 39,000 additional inbound passengers from South Africa to Western Australia annually. Before the pandemic, Australia welcomed around 58,000 visitors from South Africa in 2019, with a significant portion visiting Western Australia.
The resumption of the Perth route is a positive sign of recovery for both SAA and Airports Company South Africa (Acsa). Acsa CEO Mpumi Mpofu praised the revenue expectations from the route, highlighting the importance of enhancing connectivity and fostering growth in South Africa’s aviation sector.
Passengers like Mr. Green, who previously had to endure long stopovers on their journey from Australia to Johannesburg, are excited about the shortened travel time offered by the direct flight. The resumption of the Perth route is seen as a significant step in enhancing regional and global connectivity, following SAA’s recent launch of a service to São Paulo, Brazil.