South African national carrier, South African Airways (SAA), and Ghana’s leading carrier, Africa World Airlines have both signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance flight operations between both airlines.
According to a statement by the carriers, the Mou between the airlines will strengthen their relationship and will allow passengers to purchase single tickets from any destination served by either SAA or AWA, and transfer seamlessly between the airlines to their final destination.
The statement said this will create an expanded network for both airlines, and allow travel between city pairs that did not previously have good connectivity options bringing about ease for the traveling populace.
“The two airlines are signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance the relationship between them. Both airlines acknowledge that they have a shared interest in political, regulatory, diplomatic, commercial, and other issues related to aviation, and that these issues can be most effectively addressed by a collaborated and coordinated effort.
The airlines are also pursuing partnerships, including functional areas such as interlines, code-share and other related projects.”
On the benefit to the travelling public, the statement said passengers will have the ability to purchase a single ticket for their entire journey, and will enjoy seamless connections at both SAA’s hub in Johannesburg and AWA’s hub in Accra. Adding that there will be no need to collect baggage and check-in again when connecting between the airlines unless at the first entry point into the country to clear customs and immigrations baggage.
It said a passenger can purchase a single ticket from Kumasi to Washington via Accra. Affirming that they can then check-in at Kumasi airport with their full international baggage allowance, and collect their baggage upon arrival in the USA.
Asked if the airlines are merging, the statement said both airlines will continue to operate completely independent of each other.
“However, the two airlines recognize that they have shared interests in the aviation sector, and acknowledge that these are best served by collaboration and co-ordination.”
