South African Airways (SAA) has taken another step toward rebuilding its intercontinental network with the planned resumption of flights to Australia.
Perth will return to the carrier’s network on April 28 for the first time in more than three years. Nonstop flights from Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) to Perth Airport (PER) will operate three times per week using Airbus A340-300 aircraft.
The route will become the third long-haul service offered by the airline following the start of flights to Sao Paulo's Guarulhos International Airport from both Johannesburg and Cape Town International Airport at the beginning of the northern 2023-24 winter season.
The move marked SAA's return to intercontinental flying after a three-year hiatus following a business restructure process, similar to Chapter 11 proceedings in the U.S. Since emerging from this phase in May 2021, SAA has been gradually restoring its fleet and expanding its route network.
SAA CEO John Lamola says the decision to relaunch flights to Perth is in line with the airline’s strategic plans to scale its operations to a profitable level. “Besides the global interconnectivity potential of this route, Perth has long been a favoured destination for South African and Australian travelers, with approximately 80% of our target market being visiting family and friends,” he adds.
“The recommencement of the route provides an easier and direct passage for both leisure and business travelers, promoting trade and cultural exchange between South Africa and Australia."
PER Chief Commercial and Aviation Officer Kate Holsgrove says the Australian airport, which will host Routes Asia in 2025, will now work with SAA “with the aim of rebuilding back to a daily service.” SAA previously offered daily flights on the 5,161-mi. (4,485-nm) sector until the onset of the pandemic.
SAA will join Qantas Airways as the second operator of nonstop service between South Africa and Australia. Oneworld alliance member Qantas currently provides six roundtrips per week between JNB and Sydney using 787-9s. The airline also offered a PER-JNB nonstop during the winter 2022-23 season aboard A330-200s, but flights have remained suspended since March 2023.
SAA’s planned return to Perth marks the latest route success for the Western Australia airport following a flurry of new service announcements during the fourth quarter of 2023. In October, Qantas unveiled plans to open a 4X-weekly route to Paris Charles de Gaulle in July 2024, ahead of the Summer Olympic Games being held in the French capital, while Japan’s All Nippon Airways returned to PER with seasonal service from Tokyo Narita International Airport.
In November, Vietnamese LCC Vietjet commenced operations to PER from Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam Airlines began flying the same sector the following month. Singapore Airlines also announced that service from Singapore Changi International Airport will increase to 4X-daily from late March, while AirAsia confirmed it will provide its first flights to PER from Kuala Lumpur starting in the same month.
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