US Airways And South African Airways Expand Customer Travel Options Through New Codeshare Agreement

TEMPE, Ariz., Dec. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today US Airways (NYSE: LCC) and fellow Star Alliance member South African Airways announced a new bilateral codeshare agreement after receiving approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Department of Transport – South Africa. Flights are currently available for sale on www.usairways.com  and www.flysaa.com for travel beginning Dec. 19.

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US Airways customers will gain access to destinations throughout South Africa with the new agreement and to Dakar, Senegal pending final government approval, along with the convenience of a single-ticket purchase. Conversely, customers traveling on South African Airways will also receive expanded access to and throughout the United States.  US Airways customers will continue to have the ability to earn and redeem Dividend Miles on these new codeshare flights. South African Airways customers will also continue to earn and redeem miles as a member of the Voyager Frequent Flyer program.

"US Airways' new codeshare agreement with its first codeshare partner in South Africa creates a seamless travel experience for our customers traveling to various destinations on the African continent," said Andrew Nocella, US Airways' senior vice president, Marketing and Planning. "We are excited to expand the reach for our customers to the African continent and pleased to continue enhancing travel options for US Airways customers."

"Through the codeshare agreement with US Airways, South African Airways' valued clientele will gain new travel choices to markets across the United States via US Airways' extensive network and hubs, providing for seamless travel and status recognition through the respective frequent flyer programs. We are looking forward to introducing US Airways customers to our award-winning service, and to working closely with US Airways as our partnership will improve the connections between our respective networks," said Manoj Papa, South African Airways, acting general manager for commercial.

US Airways customers will have access to South African Airways' hub in Johannesburg as well as convenient connections to Cape Town, Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth in South Africa.  Customers will also have access to Dakar, Senegal via South African Airways' Washington-Dulles to Johannesburg.  South African Airways customers will have access to US Airways' hub cities of Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia and Phoenix as well as various destinations within the United States. Specific connection information is below:

*Route is pending final government approval.

About US Airways
US Airways, along with US Airways Shuttle and US Airways Express, operates more than 3,200 flights per day and serves more than 200 communities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Central and South America. The airline employs more than 32,000 aviation professionals worldwide, operates the world's largest fleet of Airbus aircraft and is a member of the Star Alliance network, which offers its customers more than 21,000 daily flights to 1,290 airports in 189 countries. Together with its US Airways Express partners, the airline serves approximately 80 million passengers each year and operates hubs in Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia and Phoenix, and a focus city in Washington, D.C. at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Aviation Week and Overhaul & Maintenance magazine presented US Airways with the 2012 Aviation Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) of the Year Award for demonstrating outstanding achievement and innovation in the area of technical operations. US Airways was the only airline included as one of the 50 best companies to work for in the U.S. by LATINA Style magazine's 50 Report for 2010 and 2011. The airline also earned a 100 percent rating on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality index for six consecutive years. The Corporate Equality index is a leading indicator of companies' attitudes and policies toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees and customers. For more company information visit usairways.com, follow on Twitter @USAirways or at Facebook.com/USAirways. (LCCG)

About South African Airways:
South African Airways (SAA) is the leading carrier in Africa, serving 26 destinations across the continent, as well as major destinations within South Africa and internationally from its Johannesburg hub. It is a member of the largest international airline network, Star Alliance. SAA's core business is the provision of passenger airline and cargo transport services together with related services, which are provided through SAA and its four wholly owned subsidiaries: SAA Technical; Mango its low cost carrier; Air Chefs, the catering entity of SAA and South African Travel Centre (SATC). SAA is the winner of the 'Best Airline in Africa' Award in the regional category for ten consecutive years and the winner of 'Service Excellence Africa' for three consecutive years. Mango and SAA hold the number one and number two successive spots as South Africa's most on time airlines.

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SOURCE US Airways