The start of something new: SAA gets launch event in Cape Town

It’s a clean slate for South African Airways (SAA), as they’re getting ready to be relaunched at an official event in Cape Town today, 26 October.

SAA’s significant return

The Minister of Public Enterprises, Mr Pravin Gordhan, will relaunch SAA this Thursday, 26 October 2023, at an event that will also announce the restart of the airline’s direct flights to Brazil, the South African government revealed.

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The event will be co-hosted by the Department of Public Enterprises and SAA and will also highlight the two years since the return of flights from the airline.

“The upcoming event marks a very significant step in the resurgence of South African Airways. We look forward to the official relaunch of SAA, along with the introduction of its first intercontinental flight to São Paulo, Brazil,” Minister Gordhan said in a press release.

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A new ‘lease’ on life

SAA also just recently took receipt of the first of two aircraft from SunExpress as part of a new lease agreement.

SunExpress and the airline entered into a ‘damp’ lease agreement that will allow SAA to operate flights using two SunExpress aircraft for a six-month period.

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In a press release, SAA said that the first of the two aircraft was received on Wednesday, 11 October 2023.

Under the agreement, the two Boeing 737-800 aircraft from SunExpress will operate flights from Johannesburg on behalf of South African Airways during the airline’s high-demand period.

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The first of these aircraft have begun operations in mid-October, and the second aircraft will have scheduled flights depending on the capacity demand by the airline.

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