South African Airways (SAA) is set to resume regular flights between Johannesburg and Perth starting April 28th. The airline will operate this route three times a week using Airbus A340-300 aircraft, configured to carry 253 passengers.
With Perth as their second destination in Africa and third intercontinental route, SAA continues to expand its global reach, previously offering flights to Sao Paulo, Brazil. The resumption of the Johannesburg-Perth route comes after a four-year hiatus.
Flight Schedule:
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday: Flight days from Johannesburg to Perth.
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: Flight days from Perth to Johannesburg.
In other aviation news, Emirates recently showcased its first Airbus A350-900 at Toulouse airport. The airline has placed an order for 65 of these aircraft, with the first expected to enter service in August, marked by the registration A6-EXA. Currently, Emirates operates a fleet that includes Airbus A380-800s and various Boeing 777 models.
Meanwhile, in Africa, Dana Air’s operations faced a setback following an incident involving their McDonnell Douglas MD-82 in Lagos. The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority suspended the airline’s Air Operator Certificate, effective April 24th, necessitating a safety and economic audit. Dana Air operates a fleet of seven aircraft, including two Boeing 737-500s, one MD-82, and four MD-83s.
In further developments, several airlines have announced new routes and services:
- Air Cairo is adding another Airbus A320 to its fleet.
- Air Côte d’Ivoire has welcomed its third Airbus A319-100.
- Brussels Airlines is increasing flights to Sierra Leone and Liberia.
- Camair-Co introduced three new routes.
- Emirates resumed operations between Dubai and Riyadh using Airbus A380s.
- flydubai has expanded its connections to Saudi Arabia.
- Norse Atlantic UK announced flights between London and Cape Town.
- Oman Air is increasing frequencies on the Muscat-Lucknow route.
- Saudia will begin flying between Jeddah and Abuja.
Additionally, Ethiopian Airlines has announced a new scheduled service to Warsaw, commencing in July.
New aircraft are joining various fleets across these airlines, including an Airbus A320-200 for Air Cairo, software updates in the fleet of Air Côte d’Ivoire, and additional services by Brussels Airlines beginning August 20th.
Brussels Airlines Routes to/from Africa:
- Luanda to Kinshasa
- Cotonou to Abidjan
- Douala to Yaoundé
As for Qatar Airways, they are also set to enter the African market with services commencing between Abu Dhabi and Bali, alongside an increased frequency to Luanda starting June 25th.
Finally, a cargo focus is seen with Serve Air Cargo from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, welcoming its second Boeing 737-800 freighter.
With all these developments, the aviation sector in Africa and the Middle East continues to see vibrant growth, showcasing the resilience and adaptive strategies of airlines in a rapidly changing global market.
