For the first time in its 78 year history, South African Airways has launched flights to China. South African Airways will be servicing the Chinese capital, Beijing with three weekly flighs on an Airbus A340-600 long-haul aircraft . The flights will be departing Johannesburg on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for a 15 hour non stop flight tothe Chinese capital.
The launch of the Beijing flights follows a strengthening in ties between South Africa and Beijing. South Africa is China's largest trading partner on the African continent and also a partner in the BRICS bloc that also includes Brazil, Russia and China.
South Africa sees the launch of the Johannesburg-Beijing flights as establishing JNB as a hub connecting the other BRICS countries, particularly Brazil. Chinese airlines have not been quite as enthusiastic as their government in following the money trail into Africa. Many South Africans however feel their country is increasingly falling under the influence of Beijing in a partnership that's unfairly skewed towards the latter.
But for South African Airways, after 78 years of being shut off from China, it's an historic moment to savour. Africa's most awarded airline can finally fly to Beijing with love.
Email Us at FlightAfricablog@gmail.com
The launch of the Beijing flights follows a strengthening in ties between South Africa and Beijing. South Africa is China's largest trading partner on the African continent and also a partner in the BRICS bloc that also includes Brazil, Russia and China.
South Africa sees the launch of the Johannesburg-Beijing flights as establishing JNB as a hub connecting the other BRICS countries, particularly Brazil. Chinese airlines have not been quite as enthusiastic as their government in following the money trail into Africa. Many South Africans however feel their country is increasingly falling under the influence of Beijing in a partnership that's unfairly skewed towards the latter.
But for South African Airways, after 78 years of being shut off from China, it's an historic moment to savour. Africa's most awarded airline can finally fly to Beijing with love.
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| South African Airways: To Beijing with Love |
Email Us at FlightAfricablog@gmail.com
For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.