Competition on South African routes as SAA relaunches flights to Lagos

Competition has deepened on the South Africa-Lagos route following the resumption of South African Airways flight to Lagos. South Africa Airways made a return to the Johannesburg-Lagos route 18 months after temporarily withdrawing from the lucrative route as the airline went through a rebranding process. Nigeria’s foremost carrier, Air Peace, had earlier resumed its flights […]

Competition has deepened on the South Africa-Lagos route following the resumption of South African Airways flight to Lagos.

South Africa Airways made a return to the Johannesburg-Lagos route 18 months after temporarily withdrawing from the lucrative route as the airline went through a rebranding process.

Nigeria’s foremost carrier, Air Peace, had earlier resumed its flights following the lifting of flights restrictions by the federal government.

But the SAA also relaunched its flight on Sunday, opening up a vista of competitiveness on the highly lucrative routes.

South African Airways Commercial Manager for Africa, Ohis Ehimiaghe, said SAA is excited to be back in Nigeria.

He said, “December is a very interesting month as an airline because I recall almost 23 years ago of flying into Nigeria on Dec 3, 1998, and Dec 12, 2021, we are making a return back to the Nigerian skies after almost 21 months of not operating to Lagos.

“The flight touched down this evening and it was a very impressive flight and we were greeted with the usual water cannon by the airport authorities. It was awesome. It was very nice. It gave everybody goose pimples.”

He noted that in the face of the pandemic, Africa is opening up, stressing that South African Airways is pleased to be back to the Nigerian skies.