South Africa: South African Airways to stay in the air!

South Africa's state-owned flag carrier, South African Airways (SAA), which has been fighting for its survival since entering a form of bankruptcy protection in December 2019, has announced that it will continue to operate repatriation and cargo flights during the month of May 2020 and beyond. The airline reassured that it will honour all existing commitments to provide air transportation services to its customers and any other requests that it receives. There are several requests for repatriation flights to operate to North Africa, West Africa and East Africa, the UK, the Middle East, South America and North America, and the Far East during the course of this month that are being considered by the airline.

"We are in ongoing discussions with the Departments of Public Enterprises (DPE) and that of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), regarding other destinations where South African citizens may be stranded. Further, we are responding proactively in those instances where there is a need for essential humanitarian cargo for our country and for the neighbouring states to be uplifted," says Thandeka Mgoduso, Interim SAA Executive Chairperson.

According to South African Airways (SAA), it has transported more than 9 100 passengers to six continents and more than 870 tons of freight since 03 April 2020. As long as such requests are received, the airline will endeavour to fulfill them.