South African Airways is certainly poorly run, but its demise would be a huge loss to travelers. My recent trip on SAA is a testament to that.
Reports have emerged that the South African government will provide no further financial lifeline to South African Airways. If true, there’s a strong chance that SAA will be liquidated and cease to exist, as least in its current form.
Already, the airline has been in “Business Rescue” for months (a form of bankruptcy protection intended to reorganize the company) but the South African government, facing other grave matters, has opted to pull funding (for now at least).
> Read More: South African Airways Placed In Business Rescue: What Does That Mean?
Part of me think that South African Airways will never be allowed to collapse, just like Air India or Alitalia. On the other hand, SAA continues to lose money, year after year after year, and the mass layoffs necessary to at least try to survive have been met with fierce opposition and industrial action.
All that aside, South African Airways is a delight to fly…at least for me it was. I’m saving major new trip reports, at least for now, until we get out of this time of social isolation. You may recall, however, that I was in Africa last month just before several travel bans went into place and the trip included two flights on South African Airways, from Cape Town to Accra via Johannesburg.
The overall experience was lovely. Clean planes, great service, tasty food, and a nice lounges. I teased my A330-300 report in a teaser post, but reiterate here how professional staff were, how delicious the menu was, and how comfortable the business class seat was.
> Read More: South African Airways A330 Business Class First Impressions
There’s often a disconnect, as is the case with Alitalia, between the onboard product and financial health of the company. That is certainly true at South African Airways, where the business class product greatly exceeds regional rivals like Kenya Airways.
But it’s about more than onboard service. It’s about connectivity and a ripple effect of jobs. Will Ethiopan step in to fill the void or will another flag carrier quickly emerge? Will British Airways via its perpetually profitable Comair subsidiary, step up? Only time will tell.
> Read More: This Airline Has Been Profitable For 72 Consecutive Years…
CONCLUSION
The fall of any carrier is nothing to celebrate. Here, I cannot help but to feel sad as it seems SAA has reached the end of the line. Yes, perhaps it needs to go. But the onboard product in both economy and business class was perfectly competitive. Absent paying employees slave wages to do more work, it may be that a national airline is simply not possible in South Africa.
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I too always enjoyed flying SA their regional flights were generally on time, great service and meals provided tasty something US carriers could learn from. My preferred carrier getting around Africa. Having said that one can easily see waste, redundancy and just sloppy operations it’s a shame that they couldn’t recruit a few experienced airline executives from around the world to come in and turn the airline around.
One would assume Ethiopian will continue to expand in Africa becoming “Africa’s airline” by default. Kenyan Air is struggling and will continue to.
@ghostrider5408, they could recruit such an executive, but the issue is they would not be able to deal with the labor situation which will require a substantial reduction of staff. Same issue Alitalia and Air India have.
Without the government agreeing to the labor cuts, no way an executive would be successful.
I have flown them once. Technically I was suppose to fly them twice. The equipment is old. The seats are old. The cancellations aren’t translated to customers, aka I had no idea that my flight was cancelled. Not a good airline.
I’m glad you enjoyed them, but my family and I had a mediocre – at best – time on them last year. At the time the IAD-ACC-JNB flights did have the new J class, but unfortunately the flights via Accra didnt go the days we needed to travel. We flew from IAD to JNB via Dakar and both ways we were on the old A330 that did NOT have the new interior in business class. it was 2x2x2 recliners, which were fine enough. But both going to and from JNB the food was mediocre, our inflight entertainment didnt work (and that’s a long trip – but thank goodness I brought books), and the service was unmemorable. Leaving JNB to return to IAD we almost were victims of a bribing scenario at the JNB airport that SAA check in staff seemed to be in on. We flew on a few domestic flights around South Africa and they were fine but not great. What was great was the airline Airlink that we flew to Namibia and back on. Great service, surprisingly great food for regional jets, and a great experience. While i’m very very aware of SAA’s history and legacy, it’s not what it was. Its routes, both regionally and internationally, are mostly duplicated by other stronger airlines. While I feel bad for the employees and the country, it’s really not a great carrier anymore and if it’s allowed to perish I simply see that others would continue to replace it, like they already are, on most routes that continue to be viable (the Comair/BA franchise you mention, other carriers internationally). Also, I’m glad that you had such a good experience on them, but the fact that our experience, which was relatively recent, was so polar opposite suggest wide-ranging inconsistencies.
My very first business class trip was on SAA in 2006 from Atlanta to JNB with a short stop on Sal for refueling. 21 hour flight and all I did was eat the entire time. I had the time of my life, I was all of 21 and it changed my flying habits forever. We booked through Delta at the time when they were code share partners and the amount of skymiles I got from that one trip got me to start playing the game. Great memories and a great trip.
They should close down. Money wasted on them can be used better else where.
I stopped flying with SAA about 5 years ago. I found there sevice to be poor.
How come no review? I don’t think you should be ashamed to post. We need more enjoyable things to read not less lol
Review will come. I’m just holding off since so few are reading right now. Travel is not on the minds of most folks…
Ah fair enough. I miss traveling so bad. And travel reviews lol
+1
We flew with SA to Jo’burg several yrs ago & it was absolutely fantastic. Just a shame to see another great airline go under.
They should close down. Money wasted on them can be used better elsewhere.
I stopped flying with SAA about 5 years ago. I found their sevice to be poor.
I’ve never flown SAA long-haul, but I’ve flown them domestically, and mid-haul throughout Africa. I’ve always found the employees to be charming and to enjoy their jobs. Not just on board but in the lounges as well.
I understand that maybe Cyprus, or Burundi, or Belize might not need a national airline, but South Africa seems like it would. I hope SAA persists.
Pity SAA is in scramble. We always had great service , using them for the last 4 yrs,
Flying from New York to Johannesburg.
The service on SAA is far superior then Air Canada.
SAA is not a charity and should not be treated as a charity case. Let it fold.
My international and domestic experiences with SAA have always been a pleasure. However, on my last international trip, Ethiopian fill the gap nicely. And with the severe downturn in the South African economy, it seems doubtful if any other life preservers are available
I have flown SAA several times over the years in economy and business class both domestically and internationally. Never had a problem and there lounges have been great!!
Will be a real shame if they go under.
Thanks for the article Matthew. I too will miss SAA when they’re gone. As inconsistent as my flights were, I had more good flights than bad and they gave me some wonderful memories. As a Saffa who has lived abroad for 20 odd years, I still get pangs of child-like excitement seeing their bright tails stick out at random airports around the world. But the South African taxpayer deserves to have a flag carrier that is responsibly run. That hasn’t happened and likely never will. RIP.