Frankfurt Airport and South African Airways Share Six-Decade Partnership

 
Congratulating SAA on its 60th anniversary and its record of achievement and service to passengers at FRA, Fraport AG’s executive board member for operations Peter Schmidt said:  “We are proud that South African Airways has been a committed airline partner for six decades – the lion’s share of Frankfurt Airport’s 76 year history at this location.  From fewer than 417,000 passengers in 1952, Frankfurt Airport has grown — together with SAA – into a global hub serving more than 56 million passengers last year.  We look forward to continuing our longstanding successful cooperation with South African Airways at the highest level.  We wish SAA much success and always happy landings at FRA!”  
 

In the early 1950s, South African Airlines was one of the first international airlines to fly to FRA, before Germany was able to re-launch its own national air carrier in 1955.  Today, SAA flies daily from Frankfurt to Johannesburg (JNB) with a modern A340-600 jet carrying a total of 317 passengers:  42 in business class and 275 in economy class. Fraport Ground Services is SAA’s reliable handling partner for ramp and baggage operations at Frankfurt Airport. Located near the other Star Alliance carriers, SAA is based in Terminal 1 in Departures Hall B at check-in counters 658 to 685.  
 
Transporting 6.6 million passengers in 2011, SAA ranks as the largest sub-Sahara airline on the African continent.  South African Airways serves more than 25 destinations across the continent, as well as major destinations within South Africa.  SAA flies to some 30 destinations in 26 countries and became a Star Alliance member in 2006. Contributing more than two percent to the country’s GDP, air connectivity is considered vital to South Africa’s economic development and future.  Germany and South Africa are also growing partners in tourism and trade.
 
In June 2013, air transport leaders from around the globe will converge on Cape Town to attend the 69th International Air Transportation Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit (WATS), hosted by South African Airways.