South African Airways sign codeshare pact with JetBlue Airways

South Africa’s national carrier South African Airways recently signed a codeshare agreement with leading U.S. budget carrier JetBlue Airways. With the new agreement into place now, the two airlines have also started codeshare flights between Senegal’s capital Dakar and Washington D.C.’s Dulles Airport.

The codeshare pact will enable JetBlue Airways to put its flight code on South African Airways-operated flights to/from the West African city Dakar. Similarly, the South African Airways under the codeshare agreement will be allowed to place its code on JetBlue Airways-operated flights to/from Washington Dulles.

The new agreement between the two airlines has come as a boon for the customers, which will enable them to travel on a single ticket combining flights on both the airlines. The customers will also be able to take advantage of other benefits as well such as convenient baggage transfer and one-stop check-in.

JetBlue Airways said that its customers can now purchase tickets for travel to Dakar, which is up for sale with immediate effect. South African Airways is the only carrier to operate daily nonstop flights between Washington Dulles and Dakar. The airline is providing service on this route with the help of modern, wide-bodied Airbus A340 aircraft.

The daily nonstop codeshare flights will depart from Washington Dulles at 5.40 pm and arrive at Dakar at 5.50 am the next day. The return flight will depart from Dakar at 1.55 am and arrive at Washington Dulles at 6.25 am following day.

Marc Cavaliere, South African Airways’ Executive Vice President, North America & Global Alliances, said that the launch of codeshare flights in association with JetBlue Airways is a welcome move and vastly benefit the Senegalese diaspora currently based in the United States. He said that both the airlines will now further enhance their services with increased offerings to the business as well as leisure customers.

JetBlue Airways since late 2013 is already into codeshare agreement with South African Airways offering services to East London, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg.