South African Airways codeshares with Etihad and Jet have mutual advantages for all - except Star

South African Airways has become the latest carrier to join the embrace of the Gulf carriers, signing a codeshare agreement with Etihad which adds 22 new codeshare connections between Africa and the Middle East and follows another important codeshare agreement with India's Jet Airways. The agreements mark a shift for cash-strapped SAA towards recognition that as an end-of-line carrier it must develop a more virtual long-haul network. Such partnerships are part of SAA's long term turnaround strategy and allow the carrier to extend its network without the need to commit capital to expensive long-haul aircraft.

SAA acting CEO Nico Bezuidenthout said the codeshare agreements would grow the carrier's revenue, with initial expectations that the Etihad partnership would add about ZAR100 million (USD11 million) a year to revenue.

Meanwhile Etihad will increase its already comprehensive African coverage with the addition of SAA which improves access to the continent's biggest economy.