National air-carrier, Air India, and South African Airways (SAA), have signed a code-share agreement, which they said would improve travel options between their respective countries.

The agreement allows Air India passengers to code-share on SAA's route between Johannesburg and Mumbai, as well as on the domestic sectors between Johannesburg-Durban and Johannesburg-Cape Town, a press release issued said.

SAA, in return, will code-share on Air India's domestic operations between Mumbai and Delhi as well as operations between Bangalore, Chennai, Trivandrum and Hyderabad to Mumbai, the release said.

The partnership was effective from June 18 and allows for improved and expanded connectivity between each other's networks.

"Adding Air India as a code-share partner will provide our passengers with better and more convenient connections to key destinations in India. We are looking forward to working closely with Air India to offer further travel benefits as well as seamless access to even more cities overtime," SAA's Head of Business Development, Jason Krause, said.

SAA presently flies four times per week between Johannesburg and Mumbai.