SAA To Launch Non-Stop Flights To Beijing

South African Airways (SAA), says it will launch non-stop flights to Beijing, China, from January next year.

The inaugural flight which is scheduled to leave Johannesburg from January 31, 2012 will arrive in Beijing on February, 2012.

The Chief Executive Officer of SAA, Siza Mzimela in a statement said the new route was in line with SAA’s strategy to expand its network to Asia, the fastest growing market in the world.

“Introducing direct flights between China and South Africa will promote tourism and trade, not only to South Africa, but also to all the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and other African countries.       South Africa and neighbouring destinations such as Victoria falls in Zimbabwe are already popular destinations for Chinese tourists.

“Similarly, for South Africans and other African countries, the flight will open up China as a new tourist destination and create a bridge between South Africa and China, connecting three very important BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries and promoting trade amongst these countries”, he said.

Beijing capital international Airport is the main international airport serving Beijing, China and one of the busiest airports in the world. It is located 32 kilometres Northeast of Beijing’s  city centre, owned and operated by city centre,  Beijing Capital International Airport Company Limited, a state-controlled company. There are three terminals at the airport and SAA will operate in and out of terminal three, which is also the designated terminal for Star Alliance partners.

China and South Africa established a comprehensive strategic partnership in August last year. The two countries subsequently entered into bilateral agreements for cooperation on transportation, water resources, housing, health, education and infrastructural development. The introduction of non-stop flights is to facilitate business and leisure travel between the two countries.