British Airways improves South African connections via a CemAir deal

British Airways is launching a new interline agreement with South African airline CemAir, opening up further connections from its Cape Town and Johannesburg flights.

An interline agreement is less formal than a codeshare or joint venture but it will allow you to book flights to South Africa on BA with a CemAir connection. You will have both flights on a single ticket with your baggage transferred automatically. You would also be protected if you missed your connection.

The agreement covers connections from both Cape Town and Johannesburg to Bloemfontein, Durban, George, Kimberley, Hoedspruit, Margate, Maun, Plettenberg Bay and Victoria Falls.

This is in addition to BA’s existing codeshare agreement with AirLink, which offers connections to 18 destinations in Southern Africa.

CemAir operates a fleet of regional and turboprop aircraft, with the largest able to accommodate 90 passengers.

According to reader feedback, “Cemair is also good and reliable with pleasing in-flight service. Limited carry-on space on their CRJs is offset by the ability to ‘skycheck’ cases at the aircraft door and collect them as you disembark.”

Previously British Airways offered a number of onward connections from Johannesburg and Cape Town through Comair. Comair operated under a British Airways franchise agreement with BA branding, with crew in British Airways uniform and operating to BA service standards. Unfortunately Comair collapsed in June 2022, forcing BA to makes these new arrangements.

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As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Avios points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses!

In February 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.

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