Africa World Airlines (AWA) and South African Airlines (SAA) on Monday signed an agreement aimed at deepening their commercial collaboration.
The agreement was signed between the two airlines at the Ministry of Aviation in Accra.
Speaking at a press briefing following the signing ceremony, Mr John Xiaoyi Quran, Chief Executive Officer of AWA says the signing is a milestone for the airline in a bid to deepen its partnership with SAA.
The agreement, he says, would allow AWA to transport its passengers across South African Airline’s network in South Africa and North America while also giving SAA access to the market in West Africa through AWA.
“The partnership is an important one for both sides,” he says. Africa Word Airines became the first and only domestic airline in Ghana to obtain the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification- a standard for all major international airlines.
“I am very confident that through this cooperation, Africa World Airlines and South African Airways will both benefit, says Quran.
Mr. Vuyani Jarana, Chief Executive Officer of SAA, says the partnership with AWA opened the door for SAA to expand its network to a larger market in West Africa, an important market for the airline.
SAA on the other hand, will bring the capabilities of a strong brand as well as its trunk network to feed AWA’s network in West Africa.
Ms Lulu Xingwana, South African High Commissioner to Ghana, says the agreement, aside the commercial benefits for both airlines, will also boost trade and tourism in Ghana, South Africa and other cities to be covered.
According to her, trade between Ghana and the US; and Ghana and South Africa, had increased tremendously following the launch of SAA’s Accra-Washington flights in 2015.
This was a very important benefit, in line with the African Union’s efforts to boost intra-African trade, which currently and stands between ten and 12 per cent.
