Greater than 730,000 people flew between Africa and South America in 2019, most of whom connected en route. When writing in July, there are only two routes between the 2 continents, including TAAG Angola to Brazil, which must surely be among the many world’s most ‘exotic’ long-haul services. They’ll be joined by three others later this yr, including the return of South African Airways using the gas-guzzling and increasingly rare A340-300 – of which it has only one.
Africa to South America
Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa to São Paulo/Buenos Aires is the leading route between the 2 continents. Served every day, it operates Addis Ababa-São Paulo-Buenos Aires and vice-versa using the Boeing 787-8. It covers 7,240 miles (11,652 km) each way and takes 16h 20m to succeed in Argentina. Probably the most significant source of passengers is those traveling to/from China.
Image: GCMap.
Notice Cape Town to São Paulo, an airport pair last operated by defunct Brazilian carrier Varig until 2004, nearly 20 years ago. Now it would be within the hands of South African, that hugely troubled airline (to place it very mildly).
SAA has scheduled the A340-300, with 18.4-year-old ZS-SXF for use (see the primary image). It means Cape Town regains non-stop flights to South America after Malaysia Airlines ended Kuala Lumpur-Cape Town-Buenos Aires in 2012; it used the 747-400.
Stay aware: Enroll for my weekly latest routes newsletter.
The list
When writing on July thirteenth, all of those are bookable.
Route |
Airline |
Flights |
Aircraft |
Comments |
Find flights |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Addis Ababa to São Paulo and on to Buenos Aires* |
Ethiopian Airlines |
Every day |
787-8 |
||
Luanda to São Paulo |
TAAG Angola |
Three to 6 weekly |
777-300ER |
||
Johannesburg to São Paulo |
LATAM |
Three weekly |
787-9 |
Resumes September 4th**. Previously served August 2016-March 2020, first with the 767-300ER, then the A350-900 |
|
Cape Town to São Paulo |
SAA |
Twice-weekly |
A340-300 |
Begins October thirty first**. See earlier in this text |
|
Johannesburg to São Paulo |
SAA |
Twice-weekly |
A340-300 |
Resumes November sixth**. Previously served for a few years. Equipment since 2004 included the A330-200, 747-400, 747-300, A340-200, A340-600 |
|
* Non-stop to Brazil, one-stop to Argentina |
** Dates from Africa |
Flashback: 2019
In that pre-pandemic yr, various other routes existed:
- Cabo Verde Airlines: Sal to Fortaleza, Porto Alegre, Recife, Salvador (all by the 757-200ER)
- Royal Air Maroc: Casablanca to São Paulo (787-8, 787-9) and Rio de Janeiro (787-8, 787-9, 767-300ER)
- TAAG Angola: Luanda to Rio de Janeiro (777-200ER)