South African Airways (SAA) has restarted its direct flights between Johannesburg and Perth, Australia, operating thrice weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. The relaunch event at OR Tambo International Airport on April 29, 2024, was attended by Gauteng Prime Minister Panyaza Lesufi, Economic Development MEC Tasneem Motara, SAA CEO Professor John Lamola, and ACSA CEO Mpumi Mpofu.
Prime Minister Lesufi highlighted ACSA’s efforts in expanding routes, emphasizing the significance of tourism and freight for Gauteng’s economy. He stressed the importance of developing tourism infrastructure and establishing strong air links with BRICS countries to enhance economic opportunities. “We need our own Bali in Gauteng,” Lesufi remarked, urging investment in major tourist destinations.
An Australian passenger, Mr. Green, shared his positive experience, noting the substantial reduction in travel time to just nine hours from a previously grueling 23-hour journey with layovers. This Perth route follows SAA’s recent launch of a service to São Paulo, Brazil.
OR Tambo International Airport, one of Africa’s busiest, has seen the introduction of nine new routes in the past year, including destinations like São Paulo, Algiers, Lusaka, and Beijing. ACSA CEO Mpumi Mpofu praised SAA’s progress in enhancing connectivity and promoting growth in South Africa’s aviation sector.
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