SAA looks to expand in Africa

SAA wants to expand its
African network by increasing
its fifth-freedom flights. The
airline currently has fifthfreedom
rights to operate from
Accra in Ghana to Washington.
In March, TNW reported that
SAA’s Ghana-US route could
face the axe. At the time SAA
spokesperson, Tlali Tlali, said
SAA had not been notified of
any changes.
But since then, Aaron
Munetsi, SAA acting gm,
commercial, was quoted in
African Aerospace, saying SAA
was in talks with Zimbabwe
about Harare-London flights,
with Zambia about LusakaLondon
and with Uganda about
Entebbe-London.
Aaron told TNW the
Yamoussoukro Decision
enabled any African airline
to explore fifth freedom
opportunities on the continent
as long as the other countries
had also ratified the Decision.
The African Union’s Vision
2063 also focuses on
developing a Single African Sky
where African airlines will have
unlimited access to African
aviation markets. Says Aaron:
“Progress has been made,
with 17 African countries
signing up for the unlimited
access programme. SAA is
actively involved in discussions
with African airlines to ensure
they activate the agreements
that will enable them to
access these markets.”
When and if new fifthfreedom
routes will be
launched is unclear. Says
Aaron: “It is a work in progress
and is guided by the progress
made at government level.”
In Parliament earlier this
month, SAA outlined plans
to increase frequency and
capacity into Africa.
Europe will also be a major
focus for SAA in 2018, as well
as China and the US. The plan
will be to reduce the frequency
or cancel loss-making routes,
such as Brazil. A new or
enhanced relationship with a
European airline has also been
identified as a possibility.
A possible merger between
SAA, SAX and Mango remains
on the cards. Finance Minister
Malusi Gigaba was recently
quoted as saying bids in
response to the merger tender
have been received and the
government is now reviewing
them with a view to SAA’s longterm
turnaround.
Treasury could not be
reached for comment at the
time of going to print.