South African Airways to inaugurate premium class lounge at Lagos Airport
Begins promo to make business class customer enjoy first class services

The awarding winning member of the Star Alliance, South Africa Airways (SAA) has fixed September 2009 for the launch of its new dedicated Premium Passengers’ Lounge at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.
SAA’s Head: North, Central and West Africa, Mr. Aaron Munetsi disclosed to participants at SA Tourism Africa Trade Road Show in Lagos that the establishment of the lounge is part of the airline’s efforts to offer its premium passengers a comfortable environment to relax, away from the din of airport departure hall, before boarding their flight.
“We are going to launch the new business class lounge at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in September this year. Work has reached advanced stage on the project and we are satisfied,” he stated.
According to Munetsi, the decision of SAA management to build the new lounge is in furtherance of the airline’s objective of making Lagos, the hub of the airline’s business activities in the West African sub-region.
He said when operational, the lounge facility would provide world class services to users comparable, ‘even if not better than’ similar ones being operated by the airline across the globe.
Munetsi reiterated that Nigeria remains critical in SAA’s global operations thus necessitating increase in the number of flight frequencies from two on the Lagos-Johannesburg route in 1998, to six, adding that the airline is on the verge of securing three additional slots on the proposed Abuja-Johannesburg route.
He expressed delight that SAA has made appreciable progress in the nation’s aviation sector since 1998 when the airline entered the Nigerian aviation sector as a major player, stating that the high volume of passenger traffic on the Lagos-Johannesburg route necessitated the re-introduction of the Boeing 747-400 aircraft thus making Nigeria, “one of the only two countries where the airline fly the Boeing 747-400 aircraft configured in three cabins of First, Business and Economy.”
Meanwhile, SAA is offering First Class experiences at Business-Class prices to its Nigerian premium passenger, under a special promotion currently run by the airline.
According to the airline’s Head, Marketing and Sales, Kemi Leke-Bamtefa, the upgrade promo will award the passenger an opportunity to purchase the applicable Business class fare and will have the luxury to travel in First class on a Boeing 747-400 subject to A class seats being available.”
She explained that the promotional fares, which are valid for sale to travellers on the Lagos-Johanesburg route is expected to end November 30 and are available from R26 830 ex-Johannesburg and US$4 255 ex-Nigeria, excluding payable taxes.