Executive Travel Magazine Names South African Airways “Best Airline for Flights to Africa”

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--South African Airways (SAA) has been named “Best Airline for Flights to Africa” once again by Executive Travel Magazine as part of its 2009 Leading Edge Awards. The magazine’s annual awards, voted on by its readers, honor companies it considers on the “vanguard” of the travel industry. The recognition comes on the heels of SAA winning other awards, including “Best Regional Airline” by the Skytrax World Airline Awards™, “Best Airline to Africa” by Global Traveler and Business Traveler magazines, as well as a Tanzania Tourism Award. SAA’s on-board service, including its Premium Business Class service with fully-flat bed seats and economy with more legroom than its competitors, along with on-demand, audio-visual entertainment systems in every seat, played a role in SAA winning the awards. These service attributes are rounded out by SAA being the only airline to offer daily service to South Africa from two cities in the U.S., and the most extensive route network in Africa.

“With daily service from two U.S. cities to points throughout Southern Africa and now Western Africa, along with outstanding amenities and service on board, we’re grateful that industry experts and travelers alike have taken notice of our efforts.”

“South African Airways continues to work towards enhancing its product offering, as well as its reach throughout the African continent,” said Marc Cavaliere, executive vice president, North America, for South African Airways. “With daily service from two U.S. cities to points throughout Southern Africa and now Western Africa, along with outstanding amenities and service on board, we’re grateful that industry experts and travelers alike have taken notice of our efforts.”

South African Airways is celebrating its 75^th Anniversary in 2009, having been founded in February 1934, and since then has led the way in offering world-class service from Africa to the world. This attention to service throughout the years has resulted in the airline consistently being named “Best Airline” and “Best Business Class” to Africa by numerous travel experts and publications. Today, it is poised to continue this tradition of excellence by continuously enhancing its product offering, including non-stop service from New York JFK to Johannesburg. For more highlights on South African Airways’ 75-year history, visit www.flysaa.com and link to “About Us.”

South African Airways features daily nonstop service from the U.S. to South Africa with departures from New York JFK, and direct service from Washington Dulles (with a stop in Dakar, Senegal) that offer travel convenience and award-winning service. Travelers in Premium Business Class enjoy 180° fully flat-bed seats, and in economy class enjoy the most legroom versus competitors. Every seat on board offers an individual on-demand entertainment system, plush pillow, warm blanket and amenity kit. SAA’s unrivaled network, featuring seamless connections to more than 20 destinations within South Africa, and more than 20 cities across the rest of the continent, makes the airline the savvy traveler’s “gateway to Africa.” To complement this network, a world of privileges awaits those who join Voyager, South African Airways’ premier mileage program. To sign up, visit www.flysaa.com, and link to the Voyager icon. As a Star Alliance member, South African Airways is able to offer its customers 916 destinations in 160 countries and more than 17,000 flights daily, including convenient connections from more than 25 cities in the U.S. through code share service with Star Alliance member United Airlines. Members of United’s Mileage Plus, US Airways’ Dividend Miles and Air Canada’s Aeroplan programs are able to earn and redeem miles on all SAA flights. For more information on South African Airways, please call (800) 722-9675 or visit www.flysaa.com, where travelers can sign up to be notified of other great travel deals and vacation packages.