This archive report was first published on 31 August 2021.
South African Airways (SAA) has emerged from a 17-month business rescue process and will resume flights on September 23, 2021, nearly two years after its operations were grounded due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The airline had suspended flights in response to international travel restrictions, which worsened its long-standing financial woes. However, the sale of a 51% SAA shareholding to a private sector consortium has not yet been concluded, meaning the airline will resume operations without the $201.3 million working capital initially promised.
Initially, SAA will operate flights from Johannesburg to Cape Town, Kinshasa, Accra, Lusaka, Maputo, and Harare. Other destinations will be added to the route network as operations ramp up in response to market conditions.
