19 July 1999
3600 seats per week added to SA - UK market
The Minister of Transport announced that the negotiations between South Africa and the United Kingdom governing frequency of air services were concluded on a positive note in Pretoria on Friday. It was agreed that at least five additional return flights per week would be introduced by South African airlines, i.e. South African Airways (SAA) and African Star Airways (ASA), thus increasing the current levels of service of South African airlines from 19 - 24 return flights per week.
In terms of the agreement, British carriers are allowed to add their 27th weekly return frequency from October/ November 1999. Once the South African airlines have introduced the planned 24 services, and the British have introduced their 27th , bringing the total to 51 return flights per week, airlines from both countries will be allowed to operate up to 30 services from October 2000.
The United Kingdom is South Africa's principle tourist market, a strong theme underpinning the negotiation was the need to facilitate access to South Africa as a tourist destination, given the importance that this sector has been heralded to play in terms of job creation.
The two delegations decided to meet for air services talks in early May 2000 for a further review of capacity and demand in the UK/South Africa market. The agreement was negotiated by the Department of Transport, in consultation with by the Ministries of Environment and Tourism, the Ministries of Public Enterprises and Trade and Industry.
For further information contact:
Wrenelle Stander, Department of Transport. 012 309 3945 / 082 809 5370 or
David Frost, Ministry of Environment Affairs and Tourism. 083 251 4716
Issued by: Mike Mabasa, Corporate Communications
Department of Transport (012) 309 3162