SAA deploys bigger aircraft on Mumbai route

Mumbai, Sep 1: South African national carrier South African Airways (SAA) today said it has deployed a bigger aircraft Airbus A340-300 replacing the existing A330-200 to cater to its Mumbai-Johannesburg route.

The new state-of-the art aircraft, pressed into service from today, will increase the passenger capacity to 253 per aircraft from earlier 222, it said in a release here.

SAA now flies six days a week between Johannesburg and Mumbai as against the earlier seven days a week while maintaining the seat capacity with a bigger gauge aircraft. The deployment of a bigger aircraft is a part of the planned global changes in the wide-body fleet of SAA, the airline said.

"India is an important market for us and by deploying a bigger aircraft we'll be able to offer additional seats to the growing number of passengers from the country," SAA country manager for India Sajid Khan said.

PTI