Porter Airlines has signed a deal with South African Airways that will allow passengers easier connections between the Toronto-based regional airline's destinations and Africa.

The deal follows an agreement earlier this year with Qatar Airways that allows customers travelling from the Middle Eastern country to connect seamlessly to Canadian destinations.

"This partnership provides improved access to unique destinations at both ends of the globe," Porter president and chief executive Robert Deluce said in a statement.

The new interline agreement with SAA opens up connections for passengers between Canada and Africa through Porter Airlines' base at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and SAA's hub in Johannesburg, South Africa, via Washington.

Travellers who book interline tickets with SAA and Porter will be able to check their baggage through to their final destination.

"The business opportunities between Canada and Africa are important to SAA and this new agreement with Porter Airlines will offer new and convenient connections for our customers," said Todd Neuman, executive vice-president, North America for South African Airways.

South African Airways offers non-stop service from Washington to Dakar, Senegal, with a continuation to Johannesburg.

Interline deals often pave the way for code-share partnerships, which involve a higher level of integration between two airlines.

In code-shares, flights operated by two or more different airlines will all carry the same two-digit code.