Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways now flies daily to Johannesburg, South Africa, with an addition of five flights from the twice-weekly service it started in December of 2005. The route is served by the Airbus 330-200 carrying 22 business class and 240 economy class passengers. Johannesburg, South Africa’s wealthiest city, serves as a hub for connecting flights to Durban, Capetown, and member states of the Southern African Development Countries (SADC).
The increase in flights reflects demand from the increasing number of South Africans living in the Gulf region. Approximately 20,000 of these 100,000 South Africans are in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Geert Boven, Etihad Airways’ executive vice president sales and services, said, “The demand for daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Johannesburg has grown considerably during the past 12 months whether it is UAE-based South Africans flying home with Etihad or holidaymakers visiting South Africa.
Promotional round-trip fares for the new service start at AED 2,020 (US $550) for economy seats and AED 9,850 (US $2,682) in business class. Taxes and fees are additional. Passengers enrolled the Etihad loyalty program will be awarded double miles on this route through August.
