The partnership, an extension of an interline deal first inked in 2010, is pending at the United States (U.S.) Department of Transportation and South African Department of Transport regulatory approval. It will allow customers to purchase a single ticket combining SAA and JetBlue-operated flights and enjoy day-of-travel conveniences such as one-stop check-in and baggage transfer.
JetBlue intends to place its “B6” code on SAA’s-operated flights between the U.S. and both Johannesburg, South Africa, and Dakar, Senegal, as well as on connecting flights to select destinations beyond Johannesburg, including Cape Town, Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
SAA has had a similar arrangement in place with JetBlue since 2011, placing its ‘SA’ code on JetBlue-operated flights from its U.S. gateways to top destinations including Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, Florida.
The airline flies nonstop each day between New York and Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport and daily from Washington to Johannesburg via Dakar’s Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport.
SAA’s acting General Manager Commercial, Manoj Papa, said: “South African Airways’ partnership with JetBlue has been a successful one from the start, and so we’re pleased that it has now grown into a bilateral codeshare arrangement, providing our customers with even more convenient booking and travel options.”
SAA is one Africa’s leading airline. It was recently named Best Airline in Africa for the 11th consecutive year at the World Airline Awards presented by Skytrax.
