The South Africa Airways, SAA, will today, Wednesday, January 27, commence its direct flight from Abuja to Johannesburg, South Africa.
The carrier said the inaugural flight is part of measures to boost bilateral relationship between Nigeria and South Africa.
Regional General Manager-Africa and Middle East Aaron Munetsi and the Country Manager-Nigeria Thobi Duma, told Daily Trust that it has always been the dream of SAA to ensure air travel in the continent hence its sustained efforts since it began operation in Nigeria in 1998.
The flight will be on simultaneous to and fro operation and would be on three times weekly for a start.
South Africa High Commissioner to Nigeria Ambassador Lulu Louis Mnguni during the formal launch in November 2015 in Abuja said the flight will among others engender the tourism relationship between Nigeria and his country and that more Nigerians are expected to visit South Africa and vice versa.
“We are happy to witness and to deepen Africa Agenda. We can have another Krouga Park in Bauchi State through tourism exchange. This will also assist the youths of the two countries to collaborate with each other and generate more employment opportunities that can also be used to stem the insurgency in the North East,” Mnguni said.
Munetsi said a Boeing A330-200 would be used for today’s inaugural flight and that the three times weekly flight would soon be extended to daily flight.
