Summary
- South African Airways has launched scheduled flights to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, expanding its international destination network to 12 locations.
- The airline will fly to Abidjan three times a week, offering convenient connections for both business and leisure travelers.
- SAA has also unveiled its new International Premium Lounge at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo Airport, providing a comfortable space for guests to relax and work before their flights.
South African Airways has commenced scheduled flights to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, marking the inauguration of its 12th international destination. Separately, the carrier has also announced the opening of its new international lounge at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport (JNB), partnering with local firms to offer guests a modern and more comfortable space to relax.
Flying to Abidjan
Passenger flights to Abidjan Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport (ABJ) commenced today, Tuesday, November 14. The route is operated via Accra Kotoka International (ACC), a destination SAA has been serving regularly. When the route was announced in September, the carrier stated that it would operate the Airbus A330 but has deployed its 18-year-old A340-300 on the inaugural service.
Photo: Vytautas Kielaitis | Shutterstock
SAA will fly to Côte d’Ivoire three times a week, departing JNB at 10:55 and arriving at ABJ at 17:00, with a 55-minute stop at ACC. The return service will also be operated via Accra, departing ABJ at 18:00 and arriving at JNB at 04:05. The entire schedule is as follows (all times local):
|
Flight |
Route |
Days |
Departure |
Arrival |
No. of stops |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
SA56 |
JNB-ABJ |
Tue, Thu, Sat |
10:55 |
17:00 |
One (ACC) |
|
SA57 |
ABJ-JNB |
Tue, Thu, Sat |
18:00 |
04:05+1 |
One (ACC) |
With the launch of Abidjan, SAA will now serve 11 destinations in Africa, including three in the West. “The Abidjan route is an integral component of our West Africa expansion strategy,” says South African Airways Chief Commercial Officer Tebogo Tsimane. The schedule suits business and leisure travelers, and Abidjan is also an ideal location for connecting traffic to various European destinations. The route will also provide an important cargo link between Johannesburg, Accra, and Abidjan, boosting trade with other destinations across SAA’s network.
A new lounge experience
Working and relaxing
On November 13, SAA proudly announced the opening of its new International Premium Lounge (The Lounge) at its Johannesburg base. With this, the airline has taken the first step towards renovating all its lounges. It will start refurbishing the First-Class Premium Lounge at OR Tambo in early 2024 and tweak up the Qheberha/Port Elizabeth (PLZ), Cape Town (CPT), Durban (DUR), and Johannesburg domestic lounges.
SAA has partnered with Discovery and Investec to provide an upgraded, comfortable space where guests can stay connected ahead of their travels. The Lounge features all-new contemporary design furniture and fittings, complemented with some of the finest local art collections. Additionally, the space has been carefully planned to offer a view of the airport ramp, focus booths and quiet zones to work or relax, and conference rooms for guests who wish to extend their meetings.
Wining and dining
The Lounge will be open daily from 06:00 to 00:00 local time. Operating hours will correspond with SAA’s flight schedule, subject to change at short notice. A buffet dining menu with various local and international dishes will be available throughout the day. At the new bar, guests will be spoiled for choice with a selection of cocktails, mocktails, as well as some of South Africa’s finest wines.
The Lounge also houses state-of-the-art La Marzocco coffee machines, which, according to SAA, are “often referred to as the ‘Ferrari’ of coffee machines.” Additionally, the SAA service team has been trained in special brewing techniques and creating various kinds of coffee to provide guests with the ultimate coffee experience.
The new space is now open to SAA Business, SAA Voyager Gold, Platinum, Platinum Elect, and Lifetime Platinum customers. By offering an enhanced lounge experience, SAA is confident that it will be recognized for exceptional customer service and hopes to achieve once again the status of being among the world’s leading airlines.
What are your thoughts on SAA’s recent developments? Are you going to be visiting The Lounge anytime soon? Please let us know in the comments!