South African Airways to Launch Flights to Lubumbashi and Dar es Salaam

As part of its regional expansion, South African Airways will launch two new routes to Lubumbashi in the DRC, and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania in November, 2024. The two services will operate from the airline's hub in Johannesburg.

This was revealed recently in a statement by the airline’s Interim CEO, Professor John Lamola, as the airline marks steady and sustainable growth three years after returning to the skies following bankruptcy and restructuring.

Recall that South African Airways entered business rescue in December 2019, just weeks before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. After 18 months of non-operation and comprehensive restructuring, SAA returned to the skies on 23 September 2021 with just six aircraft and six routes.

In a letter to the airline's staff and the broader stakeholder community celebrating three years since the restart, Interim CEO, Professor John Lamola wrote that, three years later, the airline has more than doubled its route network and tripled its fleet size.

Lamola said, “We are proud that between August 2022 and August 2024, we have grown the airline to 16 aircraft flying 15 routes, with a 400% growth in passenger revenues during that period.”

“To date, we have reopened 11 outstations, including Mauritius, Perth in Australia, and São Paulo in Brazil. Post-Covid, our employment offering has expanded from 500 to around 1 200 staff, including 140 pilots”.

SAA Group has experienced steady revenue growth since restarting operations in September 2021, albeit from a low base as the aviation industry was emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the 2022/23 financial year, based on a fleet of six aircraft and six routes, SAA revenue grew by a stellar 96 percent (R5.6 billion) from R2 billion in the previous year.

For the 2023/24 financial year, the airline revenue increased by a further 49% (R7.3billion) owing to fleet capacity reaching 13 aircraft.

Lamola elaborated that SAA is currently executing a business plan that allows the airline to thrive from revenues generated from its operations. The question of whether there will be another strategic equity partnership is tied to SAA’s future growth plans and remains the prerogative of the shareholder. 

According to Lamola, South Africa Airways is now positioned to embrace its national developmental mandate of stimulating tourism, trade, and the driving of transformation in the aviation sector, without compromising its commercial viability.