Introducing Cotonou, Benin, as The Latest Addition to South African Airways’s African Route Network

Johannesburg - South African Airways has introduced yet another route to its African route network as part of plans to focus growth in Africa.

Effective 17 May 2012 the airline’s new route to Pointe Noire in the Congo - which was introduced from 26 January – will be extended to also include Cotonou in Benin.

Cotonou will be served twice a week with an A319 aircraft. The flights are already available for sale in SAA’s reservations system.

“Adding even more new routes to our African route network demonstrates our commitment to growth on the continent. Our aim remains to continue exploring possibilities for our customers who travel between countries on the continent for business or tourism,” says Theunis Potgieter, SAA General Manager Commercial.

Cotonou will be the fifth new destination on the continent that the airline has introduced since October last year. Ndola (Zambia), Kigali (Rwanda), Bujumbura (Burundi) and Pointe Noire (Congo) were other recent additions to its expansive route network in Africa.

SAA also has flying rights between Point Noire and Cotonou and introducing Cotonou as an add-on flight on the newly opened route between Johannesburg and Point Noire, allows the airline to also serve this market. The flights have been timed to ensure easy connections with the rest of SAA’s route network.

Cotonou is the economic capital of Benin and the country’s largest city.  In addition to being Benin's largest city, it houses several of its government and diplomatic services including the Beninese seat of government.

International relations have been strengthened between South Africa and Benin with the state visit by President Yayi of Benin by invitation of President Zuma in November 2011.

Schedule Johannesburg - Point Noire - Cotonou