The new routes will be operated under the British Airways livery with the flight schedule including daily return flights from Monday to Friday to both destinations with double daily flights on specific days of the week. "This will add huge value to our customers travelling on these new routes by allowing them to complete a full day's work in the countries and return on the same day without having to incur accommodation expenses", says Stuart Cochrane, executive manager for Network Development and Alliances at Comair.
Comair has partnered with Solenta Aviation, and leased a 66-seater ATR72-212 turboprop aircraft which will be operating on the new routes. "We believe our partnership with Solenta Aviation who has an outstanding reputation of operating turboprop aircraft in the industry will continue to grow to include additional aircraft and more routes from both Lanseria and other potential hubs within southern Africa in the future" continues Cochrane.
"As part of our broader network development strategy we have been exploring the idea of a regional hub at Lanseria airport as part of our expansion plans into Africa for some time. We are confident that the implementation of this first phase of expansion to our African network will be well received by our customers and provide them with an alternative to current regional flights operating from OR Tambo International Airport, concludes Cochrane.
Lanseria airport has long been identified by Comair as a well positioned and popular travelling option for Comair customers living in the north and west of Johannesburg. What has been key to increasing the popularity of this airport is its ease of access to and from Johannesburg's CBD and will undoubtedly become the convenient option for those customers who will be travelling on the new regional routes. Lanseria additionally offers lower airport taxes than OR Tambo and has a great track record of flights departing and arriving on time.
Comair will initially be offering eight return flights per week between Lanseria and Maputo and seven return flights per week to and from Gaborone with the service to Gaborone growing to ten return flights before the end of the second quarter of 2011.
Bookings for the new Maputo and Gaborone routes will go on sale from the 10 March 2011 via the British Airways Call Centre on 0860 I FLY BA (0860 4 359 22) or bookings can be made with local travel agents. Flights will also be integrated and sold through the kulula.com distribution network.
