SAA Website Adds Interactive Timetable and Route Mapper

South African Airways (SAA) will be the first airline to launch on its website an interactive timetable and route-mapping tool developed by aviation data firm OAG.

SAA has newly signed up for OAG Route Mapper, a new online mapping application for marketing an airline’s routes and services. The airline will use the new application on its website, www.flysaa.com.

OAG Route Mapper is hosted by OAG and integrated into an airline’s own reservation system via its web site. It lets business and leisure travellers see at a glance where they can fly to with that airline, either directly or via a connection, and to view times and details of all flights on any route before making a booking.

The new service is expected to be live at www.flysaa.com within a month.

An Airbus A340-600 of South Africa Airways, which has nine of the type in its fleet, as well as six A340-200s and six A340-300Es (these being extended-range versions of the standard A340-300)

“SAA is ahead of the pack when it comes to seeking out and implementing some of the most technologically advanced and driven products to make the travel lives of our customers easier,” says Mike Re, SAA’s chief information officer.  “”OAG’s Route Mapper does exactly this. It provides complete convenience to the customer and is in addition to other online products launched by SAA providing the opportunity to take their travel experience from start to finish in their own hands without hassle.”

“SAA will be able to promote its entire route network in an easy-to-use application with the benefit of a visual map and detailed timetable information all on one screen,” says John Weber, senior vice president OAG Aviation. “This service has been developed to help airlines enhance their web sites and drive customer loyalty as part of an online marketing strategy.”

SAA celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2009 and is one of the oldest airlines in the world. The airline was founded on February 1, 1934 after the South African government took over the assets and liabilities of Union Airways, which up until then operated as an air mail service. It was named South African Airways and fell under the administration of the South African Railways and Harbours.

South African Airways offers more than 20 destinations throughout Africa, as well as major destinations within South Africa, including its hub, Johannesburg. It is a member of the largest international airline network, Star Alliance.

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