Saturday, February 8, 2025

SAA expands fleet to 20 aircraft

South African Airways (SAA) has reached a new milestone, expanding its fleet to 20 aircraft with the addition of two narrow-body Airbus A320s.

The aircraft, leased from Ireland-based AerCap, arrived in Johannesburg recently, further solidifying the airline’s recovery and growth strategy.

SAA Interim CEO, Professor John Lamola, said “This is a remarkable achievement considering that just over three years ago, the airline emerged from business rescue with just six aircraft.”

“Since 2021, the team at SAA has worked strategically and consistently to grow the fleet and route network sustainably. These additional aircraft will enable SAA to continue fulfilling our promise to add seat capacity in both the domestic and regional markets, contributing to the affordability of passenger air travel.”

The acquisition of the A320s underscores SAA’s improved credit status with major international aviation financiers. The airline’s fleet now includes wide-body Airbus A330s and long-range A343s, which serve intercontinental routes to São Paulo, Perth, and Cape Town, alongside regional connections.

Meeting growing demand

SAA’s fleet growth comes amid global challenges in aircraft availability due to post-pandemic supply chain constraints. Despite this, the airline is executing plans to add five more aircraft to its fleet during 2025, a move aimed at bolstering capacity and connectivity.

The expanded fleet supports SAA’s strategy of increasing flight frequency on high-demand routes. Flights between Johannesburg and Harare (Zimbabwe) and Lusaka (Zambia) have increased to 12 per week, while services to Lagos (Nigeria) and Accra (Ghana) have been raised to four weekly flights. Additionally, flights to Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) now operate five times a week, and SAA began servicing Lubumbashi, a key mining hub, in November 2024.

New routes and frequencies

SAA is also strengthening its regional presence with the launch of a Johannesburg to Dar es Salaam route and plans for continued expansion. These efforts align with the airline’s focus on enhancing accessibility for South African leisure and business travellers while supporting trade links across the continent through SAA Cargo.

Learn more about SAA’s growth and routes at South African Airways.

Kate Webster
Kate Websterhttp://www.travellerkate.com
Kate Webster is a world traveller, ocean lover and conservation warrior who is determined to make every moment count for herself and the world around her. She translates those moments and shares them through her storytelling. An adventurer at heart with a curious spirit to explore, her work has taken her to the edges of the Earth. Kate has delved into the world of wildlife and conservation travel to bring awareness. www.travellerkate.com

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