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Flag carrier of South Africa. Airline can trace its history to 1929 when Union Airways was formed by major Alister Macintosh Miller as first commercial airline in South Africa. In February 1934 Union Airways was taken over by the government and South African Railways. Operations commenced in November 1934 using Junkers 52 aircraft on mail route from Johannesburg to Cape Town. Airline started International service in November 1944 when its most important route to London was inaugurated using Avro Yorks and later Douglas DC-4s. In April 1945 SAA becomes founding member of IATA.
In April 1950, SAA received Lockheed L-749A Constellation. In 1952 SAA leased De Havilland Comet 1A, its first jet. Comets were soon grounded, due to their technical problems.
In October 1958 first turboprop, a Vickers Viscount, joined the fleet. First successfull jet in its fleet was Boeing 707 of which first was delivered in October 1960. In 1970 Rio de Janeiro is added to the network. In November 1971, first wide-body jet, a Boeing 747 arrives at companys headquarters in Johannesburg. In April 1976 SAA becomes first operator of Boeing 747SP aircraft.
In 1997, SAA introduces its new corporate identity, reflecting new South Africa flag. In January 2003 SAA receives its first Airbus A340-600.
SAA is member of Star Alliance since April 2006. In November 2007 SAA retires its last Boeing 747. However after a year in storage, two were placed back in service, primarily to serve Luanda and Lagos. Final revenue flight of a SAA B747 was in October 2010 by ZS-SAZ.
SAA serves domestic market as well as regional destinations. It serves destinations in Europe including London, Frankfurt, Munich (Canx Mar 2020) .Sao Paulo (Canx Mar 2020), Washington DC and New York in the Americas, Perth in Australia and, Hong Kong (Canx Mar 2020) as part of its longhaul network. Airline also serves Abidjan, Accra,Dakar and Lagos in West Africa. Sub-equatorial Africa services using JNB as a hub to the world with B738 and A319 services provided SAA with a lifeline through the worldwide recession. As of 2017 the airline is technically bankrupt, surviving only on government loans amounting to billions of SA Rands. As of Nov 2017 fleet will be reduced, certain African destinations axed and other domestic destinations being served with reduced frequency. Last B737 pax ops were in Mar 2018 ending 50 yrs of SAA B737 pax ops. Airline was placed in business rescue (Chapter 11) Dec 2019. On 06 Feb 2020 airline announced suspension of 11 destinations leaving only 18 destinations on 01 Mar 2020. Also announced imminent retirement of at least 20 aircraft and the loss of 2600-3000 employees jobs. Ceased all ops excluding COVID repatriation flights 01 May 2020. Aircraft Lessors commenced large scale repossessions from Apr 2020
Limited regional and domestic flights resumed in November 2020.
founded - demised (age)
February 1 1934 - present (91years)
headquarters
39 Wolmarans St., Braamfontein, 2000, Johannesburg
web
base airports
related operators
current /stored fleet (29)
