Qatar Airways has announced it is further expanding its connectivity between South Africa and the US by launching new flights to San Francisco from 15 December 2020. The new flights will be operated four times weekly connecting Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town to the United States city via Doha. (See Qatar’s full South Africa to San Francisco schedule at bottom of article.)
The flights form part of Qatar Airways’ effort to rapidly rebuild its network across the globe.
Qatar operates over 70 weekly flights to 21 gateways in Africa with its Boeing 787 and A350 aircraft. The San Francisco service will be operated by the airline’s state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 featuring 36 seats in the award-winning Qsuite Business Class and 247 seats in Economy Class.
Qatar, which is the current holder of the World’s Best Airline title, and the only Middle East carrier operating to San Francisco, says it has continued to grow and innovate during the pandemic with flexible booking policies, robust safety measures (including complimentary protective kit and disposable face shields for passengers) and a dependable network.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We are excited to welcome San Francisco as our newest destination, and our ninth current gateway in the U.S., making it easier for our passengers travelling from South Africa, to connect to the US via the Best Airport in the Middle East. We remain committed to serving our customers in Africa and have worked hard throughout the pandemic to ensure we can operate as many flights as possible, in line with the directions of the government.
“As we navigate the crisis, we have made it a priority to not only reinstate our existing destinations and be the airline travellers can rely on, but to also grow our network and increase connectivity with new and relevant destinations for our customers to enjoy. As the gateway to Silicon Valley and the vibrant tech economy, the San Francisco Bay Area is a globally important destination, both from a business and leisure perspective.”
By mid-December, the carrier will be flying 61 weekly flights to 10 destinations in the U.S. connecting onwards to hundreds of American cities through its strategic partnerships with American Airlines and JetBlue.
Qatar Airways travellers from Africa can now enjoy new baggage allowances ranging from 46 Kg for Economy Class split over two pieces and 64 Kg split over two pieces in Business Class.
Qatar Airways has also extended its commitment to offering passengers flexible booking options, now available for all tickets issued before 31 December. If passengers need to change their travel plans, they can hold their ticket value for two years, benefit from unlimited date changes, or exchange their ticket for a future travel voucher with 10% extra value.
San Francisco Connections from South Africa:
Johannesburg
Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday
- Johannesburg (JNB) to Doha (DOH) QR1378 Departs 13:56 Arrives 19:20
- Doha (DOH) to San Francisco (SFO) QR 737 Departs 13:56 Arrives 08:15+1
Durban
Monday
- Durban (DUR) to Doha (DOH) QR1361 Departs 11:15 Arrives 23:25
- Doha (DOH) to San Francisco (SFO) QR737 Departs 08:15+1 Arrives 12:55+1
Cape Town
Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday
- Cape Town (CPT) to Doha (DOH) QR1370 Departs 18:20 Arrives 05:40+1
- Doha (DOH) to San Francisco (SFO) QR737 Departs 08:15+1 Arrives 12:55+1
