LATAM Returns To South Africa After 3 Year COVID Pause

Summary

• LATAM has relaunched non-stop flights between São Paulo and Johannesburg, strengthening trade and tourism between Brazil and South Africa.
• Johannesburg is a busy hub and the main gateway into Southern Africa, offering further connections to various destinations in the region.
• Other airlines, such as Cathay Pacific, Air Tanzania, and Saudia, are also resuming or increasing flights to Johannesburg, indicating a gradual recovery in air travel in the region.

South Africa has welcomed a new connection to South America as LATAM relaunched non-stop flights between São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) and Johannesburg OR Tambo (JNB). The service was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020.

Connecting Africa and South America

LATAM returned to Johannesburg on September 2. The first flight, LA8058, departed GRU at 17:45 and landed at JNB at 06:24 local time. The three-times-a-week service will be operated on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

The return service will be operated on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, departing JNB at 13:05. LATAM is the only carrier operating flights between the two nations but will be joined by South African Airways (SAA) next month. In addition to Johannesburg, SAA will connect São Paulo with Cape Town.

The return of LATAM is an essential step towards strengthening trade and tourism between Brazil and South Africa. It also aligns with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s vision of enhancing connectivity between South America and Africa.

Flying to Johannesburg

Johannesburg is one of the continent’s busiest hubs and the main gateway into Southern Africa. Passengers traveling from São Paulo will have options for further connections to various destinations in the region.

In pre-pandemic 2019, LATAM operated between 21 and 31 flights per month. Between January 2020 and April 2020, the carrier operated 64 flights before the service was discontinued. At the time, the A350 was deployed on the route. For the rest of 2023, it has scheduled 52 flights from GRU to JNB, with 13 flights per month.

The route resumption was welcomed by Brazil’s tourism agency, as it provides South American business and leisure travelers with a seamless connection to Southern Africa. EMBRATUR President Marcelo Freixo said;

“This strategic expansion brings Brazil closer to Africa, making it easier for business and leisure travelers from both regions to experience the rich culture, natural beauties, and business opportunities each has to offer.”

Welcoming old friends

While air travel in Southern Africa has not exactly returned to pre-pandemic levels, Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport has seen an increase in flight activity in recent months. Several airlines are reinstating connections disrupted by the pandemic, while others are increasing capacity.

Last month, Cathay Pacific resumed its non-stop service between Hong Kong International (HKG) and Johannesburg after a three-year hiatus. It is currently operating three weekly flights with the Airbus A350. However, it applied to increase the frequency to 11 weekly flights, including a daily service to Johannesburg, three-weekly to Cape Town, and once-weekly to Durban.

Similarly, Air Tanzania plans to reconnect Johannesburg with Dar es Salam after four years. Although a date was not set, the carrier hinted that it would return to South Africa this month. However, unlike other airlines, this service was not disrupted by the pandemic but by legal issues.

Last month, Saudia also opened reservations for non-stop flights between Jeddah and Johannesburg. The service, last operated regularly in April 2020, will resume on December 1, 2023. It will be operated with the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner four times a week.

What do you think about LATAM and other airlines returning to South Africa this year? Please let us know in the comments!

Source: Engineering News