SAA increases Far East capacity

and expands European services SOUTH AFRICAN Airways is planning to increase the number of flights to Hong Kong from three a week to seven, serving the growing Chinese markets. This will be part of the airlineÕs vast worldwide expansion, providing additional cargo opportunities for exporters and importers. SAAÕs chief executive Andre Viljoen has also announced that arrangements have been made to lease second-hand Airbuses from commercial ally Lufthansa while awaiting delivery of its own new cargo-friendly fleet of Airbus A340-600 aircraft. The airline is now starting up new European services to Copenhagen and Milan as well as a non-stop service to Paris. GSAs appointed in UK and Ireland It has also announced plans to increase its sub-Saharan network despite ending its joint venture with Nigeria Airways. Viljoen says negotiations with Nigeria and Ghana Airways are ongoing, as well as discussions with Air Senegal, Ethiopian Airlines and MaliÕs national airline, on a code-sharing basis. SAA is also negotiating with Iberia Airlines, TAP Air Portugal and Olympic Airways to provide feeder services for its new European flights. Another development has been the appointment of two general sales agents in the UK and Ireland, the first time it has used GSAs in the region. International Airline Marketing has been appointed for the Irish leg, with SAA using Aer Lingus cargo capacity between Heathrow and Dublin. Air Logistics is the GSA for Northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.