OREANDA-NEWS. TAM Airlines, a member of LATAM Airlines Group, and South African Airways (SAA), the most awarded airline on the African continent, implemented a bilateral codeshare agreement on August 28. Through the partnership, both carriers effectively expand the range of destinations offered to their customers flying to or from Brazil and South Africa. Consumers benefit by the issue of a single ticket for passengers on certain flights operated by the partner.

Under the agreement, TAM customers will be able to fly from Sгo Paul to Cape Town, Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth, as well as Johannesburg, all of which are importance commercial and financial centers in South Africa. Meanwhile, passengers of South African Airways gain access via Sao Paulo to nine new Brazilian destinations: Rio de Janeiro, Brasнlia, Porto Alegre, Curitiba, Salvador, Florianopolis, Recife, Belo Horizonte and Foz do Iguacu.

"We are seeking partnerships like this to offer our customers flights to all over the world," explained Soledad Berrios, LATAM Airlines Group Senior Vice President Strategic Alliances. "Together with South African Airways we will make travelling between Brazil and South Africa easier, and the countries will be the gateway of the South American and African continents", said Berrios.

Passengers who are members of the TAM and South African Airways frequent flyer programs will continue to earn and redeem points or miles when flying on either carrier, observing the specific rules and conditions of TAM Fidelidade and Voyager programs.

“Alliances and partnerships of this nature forms a crucial part of modern airline management, which is about providing convenient connection for customers to as many destinations as possible without necessarily using your own resources. Moreover, this code share provides a platform to tap into the potential that lies in both carriers’ respective markets in a manner that would significantly enhance benefits for passengers of both airlines”, said Manoj Papa, SAA’s acting General Manager: Commercial.