SAA increased its share of regional and international travel in December 2025, while lagging on domestic routes.
The airline reported year-on-year growth in December passenger volumes, driven by higher frequencies and additional capacity.
On the domestic front, SAA held just 24% of the market during the month, reflecting intense competition from low-cost and private carriers.
However, the airline strengthened its position outside South Africa, capturing 41% of the regional market and 52% of the international market in December.
Destinations in its network showing the most growth in demand were Mauritius, Lagos and Perth.
Outlook for 2026
“We regard 2026 as a year of operational stabilisation, focused on enhancing customer experience through reliable fleet performance, strengthened regional connectivity and seamless global partnerships,” said John Lamola, CEO of SAA.
“Through our extensive codeshare partnerships with LAM Mozambique, Emirates, Air Mauritius, EgyptAir, Kenya Airways, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, GOL, Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand, TAAG Angola, CemAir and Turkish Airlines (effective March 2026), SAA will offer customers seamless connectivity across Africa and to every corner of the globe. Combined with our membership in Star Alliance, these partnerships ensure that an SAA ticket provides access to hundreds of destinations worldwide with the convenience of integrated booking, baggage handling, and coordinated schedules,” added Lamola.
