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South African Airways (SAA) is South Africa’s largest domestic and international airline company. South African Airways has its hubs in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg.
South African Airways’ origin can be traced to 1934, when the South African government bought an airline named Union Airways and renamed it South African Airways. In 1935, South African Airways took over South-West African Airways which since 1932 had been providing a weekly air-mail service between Windhoek and Kimberley. In 1945, South African Airways started its European operations when an Avro York Bomber flew from Palmietfontein to Bournemouth, England. In 1950s SAA entered the jet era when it introduced Boeing 707 in its fleet. In 1971, South African Airways added the Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet to its fleet. The apartheid policy of South African government affected South African Airways business in 1970s. With the demise of apartheid in 1990s its business once again started to flourish. In 1997, SAA went for re-branding and introduced its new image and livery.
Today, South African Airways serves more than 700 destinations throughout the world. It carries more than 6.5 million passengers each year and serves 34 cities in 26 countries on six continents. In India, South African Airways flies to Mumbai. South African Airways has a modern fleet. Its fleet consists of A319-100, A340-200, A340-300e, A340-600, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 737-200 S, and Boeing 737-800.