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DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 8: Fly Safair Airlines during the visit of KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala and Cabinet members to King Shaka International Airport to assess the readiness for the full resumption of flights on July 8, 2020 in Durban , South Africa. According to a press release, KZN’s economy has contracted by R30 billion and the tourism sector has been the hardest hit due to shutdown regulations due to the Covid-19 pandemic. (Photo by Darren Stewart / Gallo Images via Getty Images)
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- Dubai-based Emirates Airlines has announced a partnership with low-cost carrier FlySafair.
- The interline agreement offers single ticket and baggage tag travel from Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.
- Emirates passengers can now connect to FlySafair domestic points in Port Elizabeth, East London and George.
- The latest deal comes just a month after Emirates confirmed its partnership with Airlink, expanding the connection between South Africa and the UAE.
- For more articles, go to www.BusinessInsider.co.za.
Emirates has partnered with FlySafair, South Africa’s largest national airline.
The latest interline agreement allows Emirates passengers to connect to Port Elizabeth, East London and George airports. Travelers will not have to book connecting flights separately. It also allows Emirates travelers the option of departing from FlySafair domestic points upon return to Dubai.
An interconnection agreement also usually means that the airlines will handle the check-in and luggage of each other’s passengers, so you only need to check in once for connecting flights on either airline.
Flight reservations will be handled by Emirates and travel agencies.
Qatar Airways also recently entered into a similar agreement with FlySafair.
Emirates’ latest interline deal comes at a critical time for the South African travel industry. With the country shutting down to visitors during the height of the global coronavirus pandemic between April and September, airlines have begun to look to strategic international partnerships as a way to resurrect the industry and recoup losses incurred during the lockdown.
“Starting in November, we will be operating at full capacity again, allowing us to operate just over 75% of the available domestic seating capacity in South Africa,” said Kirby Gordon, FlySafair’s chief marketing officer. “International traffic remains very limited given the various restrictions in place, but we are pleased to report that there has been a slow and steady increase in the volumes of flights we sell through our connecting agreements like that with Emirates.”
Shortly after resuming operations in South Africa in early October, Emirates signed an extensive interline agreement with Airlink. The Johannesburg-based airline has an extensive network in South Africa and flies to 25 destinations beyond South Africa. Airlink’s fleet, consisting of more than 50 aircraft, now connects Emirates passengers with Mozambique, Madagascar, Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia and others.
Emirates’ partnerships with Airlink and FlySafair coincide with the uncertainty surrounding the future of South Africa’s national carrier. South African Airways (SAA), which maintains a codeshare agreement, frequent flyer benefits and an interline agreement with Emirates, is engaged in a lengthy business rescue program.
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