ED RICHARDSON SOUTH AFRICAN Airways will launch direct flights between Mali and South Africa from the beginning of next year. SAA’s vice president for communication and government liaison, Onkgopotse JJ Tabane - who was part of a recent SAA delegation to Mali - said the airline could start flying as early as January, offering a three times a week frequency. The flight will be tagged onto the current SAA flight to Abidjan where a technical stop will be made as part of the eight hour flight to the Malian capital Bamako. He said SAA would work with the Mali authorities to structure an appropriate cargo service. “SAA is ready to take full advantage of the co-operation between the two countries and be a catalyst for the growth of trade that is critical for economic development of the two countries,” Tabane said.
