SAA makes getting to Africa easy (again)

Getting to destinations in Africa has become a whole lot faster and easier thanks to the recent relaunch of direct air services between Perth and Johannesburg by South African Airways.

SAA relaunched three-times-weekly services between Perth and Johannesburg at the end of April after ceasing operations on the route in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The route is served by an Airbus A340-300, configured with 253 seats — 38 in business class and 215 in economy. The airline is planning to increase frequency to five times a week “in the coming months”, and “in due course” will replace the A340-300, Carla Da Silva, general manager, sales, marketing, distribution and e-commerce tells The West.

SAA’s flight leaves Perth at 11.50pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, arriving at Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport at 4.45am the following day. The return flight leaves Johannesburg at 8.55pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, arriving in Perth at 12.20pm the following day.

At 10 hours 55 minutes outbound from Perth and nine hours and 25 minutes scheduled flight time on the return, SAA’s flight is by far the quickest way to reach Africa from Perth.

During SAA’s absence, Perth travellers faced a journey of at least 24 hours with carriers via the Middle East or Asia, a lengthy layover outbound via Mauritius, or you could always fly to the other side of Australia, only to fly back over Perth on Qantas’ Sydney-Johannesburg flight.

Qantas is planning to add direct Perth-Johannesburg services in mid-2025 following a recent agreement with Perth Airport as part of the airport’s multi-million-dollar upgrade.

It would appear from loads in the first couple of months of service Perth travellers have welcomed SAA’s return.

“Our current average load factor is over 70 per cent,” says Da Silva.

When I flew on the route in June and July, loads in both directions were well above 90 per cent.

“The Perth route is doing well. Our South African community, business, visiting friends and relatives, and leisure traffic, have embraced the new route. The fact that it is the shortest flying time to Africa is very attractive,” Da Silva says.

If, like me, you have champagne tastes on a beer budget, SAA offers the opportunity to upgrade from economy to business class by bidding through its Step Up Upgrade feature, make a last-minute upgrade at the airport, or you can block the seat/seats next to you for a fee via its My Extra Seat feature. Da Silva says the airline “will keep enhancing these value propositions”.

SAA’s early arrival into Johannesburg means onward connections are available throughout the continent.

SAA is rebuilding its pan-African network, with domestic services to Cape Town, Durban and Gqeberha (previously Port Elizabeth), and international services to Windhoek, Namibia; Lusaka, Zambia; Victoria Falls and Harare in Zimbabwe; Accra, Ghana; Lagos, Nigeria; Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire; Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and Mauritius.

On my recent African adventure, I flew economy class with SAA to Johannesburg, with onward connections to Walvis Bay, Namibia, with Airlink (SAA doesn’t serve Walvis Bay). It did involve a five-hour layover both ways, but there are worse airports to spend that long in.

Little seemed to have changed since my last flight with SAA on the route in January 2020, but changes are afoot.

For me, and I expect many others, the convenience and timing of a direct service are more valuable than the hundreds of channels of video and audio programming, in-seat power supply and wi-fi on offer from the Middle East or Asia-based long-haul carriers that will get you there via far more circuitous routes.

SAA’s 19-year-old A340-300 has a capable, but basic (in today’s terms) economy class in-flight entertainment system, featuring 12 new-release movies, a selection of world movies, more than 40 film collection choices, and six African movies. There is also as a wide choice of two or three episodes each of various TV programs, rather than full boxsets. Da Silva says in-flight entertainment on the service will be upgraded in the near future with SAA’s new Airscape platform, which will enable passengers to stream content, including movies, TV shows, games and the moving map to their own personal electronic devices.

I forewent dinner on both flights, but my husband, who never declines a meal, accepted all and had no complaints.

I ate before the flights thanks to SAA generously providing lounge access.

From Perth, SAA business class passengers have access to the lounge of fellow Star Alliance carrier Air New Zealand. On the return flight, I was lucky to experience SAA’s recently opened Premium Lounge, which features multiple seating and meeting options, as well as an impressive food and beverage offering, and the friendliest catering staff you will encounter in any airline lounge.

SAA’s ground and onboard service was warm and welcoming. On the outbound leg from Perth, we encountered considerable turbulence, resulting in the seatbelt sign remaining on for hours. The consistent commentary from the flight deck keeping passengers aware of the situation, coming so soon after Singapore Airline’s severe turbulence incident, was particularly appreciated.

And never before have I heard such detailed and entertaining descriptions of the meals, allergens and all, as from the cabin crew at the back of the aircraft on our outbound service.

You might not get all the bells and whistles onboard SAA flights that some other airlines offer, but changes are planned, and flying with the airline ensures you can start your African adventure as quickly as possible.