Qantas to pull out of SAA deal

Johannesburg - Australian airline Qantas is to terminate its code-share agreement with SA Airways, the South African airline said on Friday

The code-share agreement with Qantas came into effect in October 2000 after SAA stopped flying its own aircraft between Johannesburg and Sydney.

Code-sharing refers to an arrangement where passengers can purchase a seat from one airline and the seat is actually with a different airline. This allows an airline to offer routes that its craft do not fly to.

SAA said its flights to Perth would continue.

"Although we no longer operate flights ourselves to Sydney, we will maintain our presence in the country through our own operations to Perth and all of our established partnerships," SAA acting commercial general manager Kendy Phohleli said.

SAA customers would be able to continue travelling between Johannesburg and Sydney via the airline's gateway in Perth.

SAA code-share flights on Qantas's Sydney operation would be closed off for sale on February 21.

No further bookings would be made for travel after June 1.