South African Airways

South African Airways (SAA), with ICAO code SAA, is the flag carrier of South Africa. Its origins trace back to Union Airways, founded in 1929, before being rebranded as South African Airways in 1934 when the South African government took over operations. SAA is headquartered at Airways Park at O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg, which serves as its primary hub. Cape Town International Airport (CPT) is a key domestic focus city and secondary base.

As of 2025-2026, SAA operates an Airbus fleet with plans to increase its fleet size. The airline primarily utilizes the Airbus A320 family for its domestic and regional routes, while Airbus A330 and A340 widebody aircraft are deployed on longer intra-African and intercontinental routes. SAA's route network connects Johannesburg to key domestic cities and 16 regional and international destinations. Its intercontinental destinations include Perth, Australia, and São Paulo, Brazil. SAA joined the Star Alliance in April 2006, becoming the first African carrier to be part of any major global airline alliance.

SAA offers various services to enhance the passenger experience. Business-class seats on their Airbus A330-300 and A340-300 aircraft feature a 2-2-2 configuration with generous pitch, personal touchscreen monitors, duvets, and full-size pillows. On domestic and regional routes, the A320 business-class seats have a 39-inch pitch in a 2-2 configuration. The airline also provides a frequent-flyer program called Voyager, and offers services like lounge access, priority boarding, and priority check-in for premium passengers.