info - south african airways

South African Airways (SAA) is the leading airline on the African continent and consistently receives annual awards from numerous top-rated publications and international organisations for Best African Airline. The airline is 71 years old and was one of the first national airlines in the world.

The customer comes first, always, at SAA. All front line staff receive extensive, ongoing training to ensure a customer-focused approach throughout the travel experience.

 

SAA's readmission in April 2003 to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) gave it the opportunity to improve aviation infrastructure and encourage an open skies policy within Africa.

SAA is owned by Transnet, the South African government transport body. The airline's almost 11 000 employees hold a 2% stake in the company.

The airline carries more than 7 million passengers a year on a route network that serves 34 cities in 26 countries.

According to Skytrax, the British experts on airline rankings, SAA features as one of the top ten international airlines with a product offering and service standards in keeping with international best practice. SAA’s Business Class seat was also ranked as the world’s best lie-flat seat on an aircraft in 2004.

 

SAA has a fleet of 58 aircraft including brand new Airbus A340-600, A340-300E and A319 aircraft as part of its fleet renewal programme.

SAA Technical, the largest maintenance facility in Africa, performs maintenance work for more than 40 major airlines.