British Airways has penned a codeshare settlement with South Africa-based Airlink that helps vacationers from BA attain locations in Southern Africa.
For a very long time, BA had a franchise in South Africa, Comair, that operated flights beneath British Airways branding and was a part of the Govt Membership frequent flier program. The airline collapsed in June 2022 (learn extra right here).
You may entry BA right here and Airlink right here.
The settlement with British Airways and Airlink permits fliers to purchase tickets to pick locations on Airlink.
Govt Membership members who fly on BA codeshares on Airlink can acquire Avios however can not use them for Airlink flights.
Airlink’s Route Map
BA’s Press Launch:
8 February 2023: British Airways has introduced a codeshare partnership with Airlink, enhancing connectivity between the UK, Europe, North America and greater than 15 locations in Southern Africa.
With bases in Johannesburg, Cape City, and Durban in South Africa, Airlink is a premium regional airline with a wide-reaching community of cities in 14 international locations, together with South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia.
The settlement means British Airways’ prospects travelling from or transiting by way of London will be capable of connect with their remaining vacation spot through Cape City or Johannesburg on a single ticket. It will provide extra alternative and adaptability for these travelling on to certainly one of 18 cities and cities, akin to Windhoek in Namibia and Durban in South Africa.
British Airways at the moment flies twice every day between London Heathrow and Johannesburg with A380 plane, twice every day between London Heathrow and Cape City with B777 and A350 plane and thrice per week between London Gatwick and Cape City with B777 plane.
Members of British Airways’ loyalty programme, the Govt Membership, can earn Avios when flying on Airlink flights on a British Airways’ codeshare journey. Avios is the programme’s foreign money, which can be utilized as part-payment in the direction of Reward Flights or upgrades, in addition to lodge stays, automotive rent and extra.
Neil Chernoff, British Airways’ Director of Community and Alliances, mentioned: “Our flights to Cape City and Johannesburg proceed to be as widespread as ever with our prospects, so we’re happy to have the ability to open up extra choices within the Southern African area. Our partnership with Airlink implies that prospects will be capable of e-book a full journey on one ticket, permitting seamless journey all the way in which from London to their remaining vacation spot.”
Airlink’s CEO and Managing Director, Rodger Foster, mentioned: “This is a vital subsequent step in our partnership with British Airways, which has an outstanding international attain into a very powerful markets for our area. The wedding of our two networks will profit each British Airways’ and Airlink’s prospects, giving them much more alternative with a variety of itinerary choices and connectivity potentialities.”
In complete, 18 locations can be found as codeshare choices when travelling from Heathrow through Johannesburg and Cape City. Examples embrace:
- London Heathrow to Durban through Johannesburg
- London Heathrow to Port Elizabeth, South Africa, through Cape City or Johannesburg
- London Heathrow to Skukuza, South Africa through Cape City or Johannesburg
- London Heathrow to Windhoek, Namibia through Cape City or Johannesburg
- London Heathrow to Walvis Bay, Namibia through Cape City or Johannesburg
Codeshare tickets are actually accessible to e-book on www.ba.com, for journey from 15 February 2023 onwards.
Conclusion
Conair’s collapse left a large gap in BA’s operations in South Africa and neighboring international locations, as vacationers had been in a position to connect with many locations on BA-branded flights whereas incomes and burning Avios. South African Airways can also be a shadow of its former self, with few flights working.
The Airlink seems to be the one full-service airline nonetheless buying and selling in South Africa, and it solely operates Embraer planes.
The codeshare settlement permits BA fliers to buy by way of tickets that defend them in case of flight delays and cancellations.