South Africa’s flag carrier has formalized a codeshare agreement with privately-owned CemAir.
The deal relates only to domestic services, officials said.
“Unlike our international codeshares, this agreement focuses on connecting major cities with regional and leisure destinations that were previously beyond SAA’s reach,” SAA Group CEO John Lamola said in a statement. “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.”
Since the demise of South African Express, SAA’s former regional carrier, the airline no longer offers connectivity to many regional centers across South Africa.
Since restarting operations in late 2021, South African Airways has gradually been rebuilding its network. It currently operates regular service between South Africa’s gateways and larger hubs, as well as to various destinations in Africa and to Perth and Sao Paulo.
Re-establishing Regional Connectivity
CemAir offers service on many of the country’s regional routes, including those once operated by SA Express. It operates a fleet of regional jets and turboprops.
“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,” said CemAir CEO Miles van der Molen.
Both airlines will place their codes on each other’s flights, enabling customers to book integrated itineraries.
