South Africa and China have signed a bilateral air service agreement to promote tourism and strengthen trade relations between the two countries.
Several South African companies, including state-owned defence group Denel, have growing business interests in China, while South African banks have established offices there.
Designated airlines of both countries are entitled to operate four scheduled passenger frequencies and two dedicated freight frequencies a week. The carriers may use three intermediate points between their countries, three entry points and continue to two destinations beyond each country. They may enter into codeshares and blocked space arrangements with each other, or with airlines from a third country for operations via that country.
This is the 42nd bilateral air agreement signed by South Africa, which is negotiating similar arrangements with 59 other states.
SAA says it has no immediate plans to fly to China, but code-shares with Chinese carriers will be considered. SAA is streamlining its international route network by ridding itself of "tag-on" destinations. It will announce a new partner in the Hong Kong market this month. This follows revision of its routes to South-East Asia around codeshares with alliance partners.
Source: Flight International
