The partnership, which is now in effect, will improve and expand connectivity between the two carrier’s networks. The agreement allows Air India passengers to code share on SAA’s route between Johannesburg and Mumbai, as well as on the domestic sectors between Johannesburg - Durban and Johannesburg - Cape Town.

SAA in return will code share on Air India’s domestic operations between Mumbai and Delhi as well as operations between Bangalore, Chennai, Trivandrum and Hyderabad to Mumbai.

“Adding Air India as a code share partner will provide our passengers with better and more convenient connections to key destinations in India. We are looking forward to working closely with Air India to offer further travel benefits as well as seamless access to even more cities overtime”, says Jason Krause, SAA Head of Business Development.

SAA currently operates four times per week between Johannesburg and Mumbai.

“The code share with South African Airways has provided Air India with an opportunity to establish its presence in the South Africa market once again, after Air India had withdrawn its own operations from South Africa in February 1997. We also look forward to expanding this code share eventually to offer as wide an access on each other’s network as possible,” says Arvind Jadhav, Chairman and Managing Director, Air India.