SA Express Airline
Takes off
S
from the North West
Text: SA Express
A Express is committed to supporting our vision of connecting
major cities, like Johannesburg,
Cape Town and Durban with smaller
communities. In partnership with
the North West Province, we have
agreed to launch several new routes that will connect the province’s two airports – Pilanesberg and
Mafikeng – with major cities in South Africa and
the southern Africa region.
The partnership is aimed at stimulating the
province’s economy, especially its smaller enterprises, and is expected to create hundreds of jobs
and contribute to skills development.
From April 2015, SA Express will introduce
flights three times a week between OR Tambo International Airport and Pilanesberg and Mafikeng
airports. In addition, we will be launching two
flights between Pilanesberg and Cape Town.
Ntshanga said: “This is a significant milestone
for us as an airline. It marks our coming of age,
as we turn 21 in two month’s time. For the first
time in our 21-year historywe will be flying in this
province, which makes us a truly regional South
African airline that connects all of our major cities
with the small, outlying ones in our country. It is
also in line with our strategy of making air travel
accessible to as many South Africans as possible.
This is an integral part of our growth strategy.
In the medium term, we are looking at launching
more routes as part of the implementation of our
growth ambition.”
To promote local economic development, the
partnership envisages the creation and appointment of two employment-creating entities: Firstly,
a local company to manage the new air services
at the two airports; and secondly, the appointment of a local marketing company to promote
the opportunities arising from the two new
routes.
SA Express continually looks for opportunities
to increasing our route network every year as we
get to understand the travel needs of our customers better. We are also committed to making
air travel as widely accessible to as many South
Africans as possible by offering value for money
fares.
Ntshanga, who expects the new routes to bolster the airline’s revenue, said: “This is a game
changer for this province. It catapults the province to the premier league of economic players.”
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