Johannesburg – 24 May 2017. FlySafair announced today that it has refiled all its fares into the Global Distribution System (GDS) to offer a more competitive solution to the travel trade. New fares will start from just R1 368 including all taxes, a R60 distribution fee, 23kg of checked luggage, two penalty-free flight changes and complimentary priority boarding.
“We initially filed a slightly more conservative fare in order to be able to recover the high costs of distributing our inventory via the GDS,” explains Kirby Gordon, Head of Sales and Distribution. “After a few months in the eco-system we relooked the setup and saw that there was scope to lower the fares, so we did.”
FlySafair first launched in the GDS environment in November last year by way of a codeshare partnership with Hahn Air Systems. As a result, its inventory is marketed across a number of global GDS systems under the H1 code.
In March this year, the airline completed direct integrations with Amadeus and Galileo whereby its inventory is now also marketed under the FA carrier code.
R60 Distribution Charge
Agents will note the inclusion of a R60 fuel surcharge (YQ tax) associated with FA fares. This is not actually a fuel surcharge, but rather a distribution fee to cover the costs of transacting through the GDS.
Plating on Hahn
All FA inventory is plated on HR stock as Hahn collects all payments on behalf of FlySafair. As such, agents will see HR as the only available option in their Auth field.
High-Value Ticket
FlySafair has departed from its strictly unbundled web fare to provide the trade with a high-value option that is specifically suited to the corporate traveller. GDS fares from FA are equivalent to the airline’s “standard fare”, and for a premium of R200, these fares include 23kg of checked luggage, complimentary priority boarding, and perhaps most enticing, two penalty-free changes. Bought separately these features would equate to R800 worth of value.
“We’ve been really thrilled with the support that we’ve received from the trade so far,” says Gordon. “Our aim is to continue to work with the trade to optimise the offering we make available through the GDS.”
About: FlySafair is a domestic low-cost carrier operating in South Africa. Flights are available between OR Tambo, Lanseria, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, George, East London and Durban from just R599. FlySafair has carried more than 3 million customers and is ranked the world’s most on-time airline. In 2016 the airline won ACSA’s “Best Low-Cost Carrier” award at every airport to which it operates. FlySafair is also proud to be the Official Domestic Carrier for the Springboks.
