South African Airways has commenced a daily A330-200 service between Abu Dhabi and Johannesburg, with flight SA279 departing at 01.05 and arriving at 08.15. The aircraft is configured to carry 36 passengers in Business Class and 186 in Economy Class. Etihad Airways continues its seven A330 daily departures at 09.30. 
Nico Bezuidenhout, Acting Chief Executive, said: “Since first signing our codeshare agreement in 2013 the important partnership between SAA and Etihad Airways has grown positively. Our deepening relationship not only sees both airlines enjoy network expansion through codesharing, but together we are exploring means to share knowledge and best practice across a wide variety of aviation related and commercial matters.”
The airlines have significantly expanded their codeshare agreement to include a total of 51 routes, more than double the previous number. Etihad Airways will also place its ‘EY’ code on South African Airways’ new Johannesburg-Abu Dhabi flights, in addition to 17 of SAA’s other services from Johannesburg to key destinations across the African continent. In return, South African Airways will place its ‘SA’ code on 35 Etihad Airways routes beyond Abu Dhabi to a range of destinations worldwide.
