Cape Town - National carrier South African Airways (SAA) has started a new route from Johannesburg to Pointe Noire in Congo Republic (Brazzaville).
The first flight was on 26 January.
Dileseng Koetle, SAA-spokesperson, said the new destination is a “welcome addition" to the airline’s expansion on the rest of the continent.
It now flies to 21 African cities.
Pointe Noire, the economic capital of the Congo is SAA’s fourth new destination on the continent for the 2011/12 financial year, after Ndola (Zambia), Kigali (Rwanda) and Bujumbura (Burundi).
The city is the centre of the oil industry in the Congo which is one of the main oil producers in Central Africa.
Koetle said the airline will also start its new route to Beijing on Tuesday. This is the first time the airline will fly directly to mainland China.
The global airline industry is facing tough times on the back of high oil prices and a weak global economy.
SAA has historically made its biggest profit on its routes in Africa as these carry the highest margins. The airline is also hoping the new route to Beijing will see similar success.