Corporate travel specialists ATPI Australia has welcomed Qantas’ decision to introduce flights from Perth to Johannesburg.Qantas has said it will operate the service three times a week, starting later this year.
ATPI Australia, a part of The ATPI Group, global leader in travel management and events, said the South African service was good news for corporate and leisure travellers.
ATPI Regional Managing Director Australasia and Africa Peter Muller said the African travel market was returning strongly after the disruption caused by COVID-19.
“We continue to see month-on-month increases as our corporate clients become more confident of international and domestic travel,” Mr Muller said.
“For Qantas to open the route from Perth to Johannesburg is a show of support and a recognition that the demand exists.”
He said ATPI had employed extra staff in Johannesburg to cater for the increasing demand for travel from Australia.
“Our extra staff will be just in time to meet what I expect will be an increase in bookings and
inquiries from corporate clients,” he said.
“I have no doubt that these direct flights will be the catalyst for the return of increased corporate travel to Africa as companies, particularly in the mining industry, seek out new and expanded business opportunities.”
ATPI specialises in corporate travel in Africa through its Africa Gateway service, a network that fully services 30 countries, many of which are destinations for mining and oil and gas companies.
“Africa is often referred to as one location,” Mr Muller said. “The reality is that each country has unique geography, history, politics, policies and regulations, and cultural nuances, any one of which can cause problems for business travellers.”
He said post COVID-19 travel requirements had added to an already complicated and challenging environment throughout Africa that was beyond the capacity of most companies’ in-house travel arrangements.
