South African Airways and Air Canada have signed a code share agreement that will make it substantially easier for customers to travel between South Africa and Canada.

With immediate effect, customers connecting between the carriers in London will be able to book a single itinerary and make seamless connections.

In addition, the two airlines are members of Star Alliance, thus enabling customers to benefit from reciprocal frequent flyer miles accumulation or redemption and lounge access for eligible customers.

In addition, SAA and Air Canada received approval from the US authorities last week and connections through New York will be added in the near future.

“SAA looks forward to introducing Air Canada’s customers to our award-winning service and extensive route network.

“This code share agreement represents new and seamless travel options between two world-class airlines with a deep knowledge of their respective markets,” said Manoj Papa, SAA acting general manager: commercial.

“Travellers based in Southern Africa and Canada will benefit greatly from the convenient travel choices now open to them, thereby increasing travel between the two regions.”

SAA will code share on Air Canada-operated flights between London and Vancouver, London and Toronto, and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Toronto (including flights operated by Air Canada Express).

Air Canada will in turn code share on SAA-operated services between London and Johannesburg, New York and Johannesburg, and Johannesburg and Cape Town.

With both airlines being preferred partners as members of Star Alliance customers will continue to enjoy the benefit of earning and redeeming frequent flyer miles through Aeroplan or the SAA Voyager program when flying on the code share services and throughout their respective global networks.