South African Airways 2025 plans

South African Airways (SAA) is soaring to new heights in 2025, with ambitious plans to expand its fleet and route network. But let’s take a step back – just how far has this iconic airline come since its rocky past?

From Six to Twenty

Fast-forward to today, and you’ll find SAA sporting a shiny new fleet of 20 aircraft. That’s right – in just over three years, the airline has more than tripled its fleet size. To put that in perspective, SAA emerged from business rescue with a paltry six planes. Talk about turning things around!

But here’s the kicker: SAA isn’t stopping there. The airline is gearing up to add five more aircraft to its fleet in 2025. That’s right – five more planes joining the party, bringing the total to 25. What does this mean for passengers? More seats, more routes, and potentially lower fares.

Since the beginning of 2025, two Airbus A320s have joined SAA’s family from Ireland-based AerCap. These sleek, modern jets aren’t just any ordinary additions – they’re part of SAA’s strategy to boost capacity in both domestic and regional markets.

Expanding Horizons

SAA recently relaunched flights between Dar es Salaam and Johannesburg, and if you’re heading to Harare or Lusaka, you’ll be pleased to know that flight frequencies have increased to 12 flights per week, up from 10 and 7 flights a week respectively. Even Lagos and Accra are getting more love, with flights going from three to four times a week. SAA increased its intercontinental flight frequency to Perth in Australia to five weekly flights from 7 January this year.

As SAA continues to soar, it’s clear that the airline is committed to growth and expansion. But what does the future hold? Will we see SAA venture into international waters? Maybe a return to Europe! Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure – with its impressive growth and ambitious plans, South African Airways is worth keeping an eye on in 2025.