After several financial problems and emerging from bankruptcy, South African Airways (SAA) has resumed operations today with its first flight SA317 connecting Johannesburg (JNB) – Cape Town (CPT) with 123 passengers aboard an Airbus A320.
Thank You, Airports Company South Africa for showering us with love. @Airports_ZA. Cape Town arrival ✈️ pic.twitter.com/ZXTlXh9tZm
— SAA – South Africa (@flysaa) September 23, 2021
During the last decade the airline accumulated heavy financial losses. And finally due to COVID-19 pandemic, SAA suspended in March 2020 all its commercial operations, limiting itself to humanitarian flights of repatriation and cargo until July of the same year.
During the first half of 2021, the airline received a bailout from the South African government to begin restructuring, emerging as a smaller operator. On August 4, 2021, the airline renewed its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) as a requirement to commence air operations.
Its only domestic service will have three weekly flights, SAA also plans to start operations to five short/medium haul international destinations to Accra (ACC), Kinshasa (FIH), Harare (HRE), Lusaka (LUN) and Maputo (MPM). It should be noted that the airline does not yet have plans to operate long-haul flights in the short term.
«This week is a proud and significant week for SAA and its staff, as well as for all South African citizens. Our journey back to the skies has not been easy and I pay tribute to our dedicated workforce in all areas of the business who have worked and are working long hours leading up to this day. People in all facets of the business want nothing more than SAA to succeed and for us to build a new airline based on safety and exemplary customer service,» says SAA’s interim chief executive officer, Thomas Kgokolo.
«We restart this business with a new vision with pride of the brand that has been engaging all staff members. Our first order of business is to service our start-up routes efficiently and profitably and then look to expand the network and grow our fleet, all depending on demand and market conditions,» he added.
