South African Airways Operations Update

Last Updated: 02 August 2021

South African Airways (SAA) advises all customers that the global lockdown as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and our suspension of services had given us the opportunity to concentrate on moving forward our much publicised business rescue. Amongst other benefits this process aimed to produce a right sized, customer centric airline; designed to be lean, technology savvy, digitally native and agile to service all market segments. SAA exited Business Rescue on 30 April 2021. A solvent company has been handed over to the interim Board of Directors and Executive Team, whom are very hard at work navigating SAA into a state of readiness to resume operations. 

As the world continues to roll out vaccines and study its efficacy amidst a mutating virus, commercial air travel being a catalyst for economic activity and tourism needs to continue in a responsible manner. Like many countries, South Africa continues to review restrictions at regular intervals.

 #SouthAfricaisTravelReady

Trans-national commercial air travel is however conditional as many countries battle with fluctuating rates of infection and/or new waves of infection. For now this has necessitated that all SAA operated flights (domestic and regional) are suspended until 30 September 2021 and all SAA operated international flights are suspended until further notice.

The temporary suspension of operations also means that we would not be reachable to provide support through voice or email channels. You may however continue transacting on our website or contact your nearest travel agent. The timing of the reopening of our Contact Centre and service centres within Africa would coincide with the opening of sales for scheduled flights on a route network that would be announced soon.  

SAA apologies for the inconvenience caused as a result of the suspension of its operations. 

The South African Coronavirus Resource Portal

  • Applicable to all tickets issued on/before 25 March 2020 and new tickets issued up to 30 September 2021 (domestic and regional) and 30 October 2021 (international).

    This Travel Advisory is applicable to South African Airways operated flights, SAA/Mango codeshare (SA2000 flight range) and SA marketing (SA7000 flight range)

    This Travel Advisory is also applicable to SA Express (SA1000 flight range) and Airlink (SA8000 flight range) flights that form part of an itinerary that contains a SAA operated flight.

    Affected International Flights between:

    Johannesburg and Washington DC

    Johannesburg and New York

    Johannesburg and Perth

    Johannesburg and London

    Johannesburg and Munich

    Accra and Washington DC

    Affected Regional Flights between:

    Johannesburg and Accra

    Johannesburg and Lusaka

    Johannesburg and Harare

    Johannesburg and Victoria Falls

    Johannesburg and Windhoek

    Johannesburg and Lagos

    Johannesburg and Entebbe

    Johannesburg and Mauritius

    Johannesburg and Nairobi

    Johannesburg and Maputo

    Johannesburg and Blantyre

    Johannesburg and Lilongwe

    Johannesburg and Dar-es-salaam

    Johannesburg and Kinshasa

    Johannesburg and Livingstone

    Affected Domestic Flights between:

    Johannesburg and Cape Town

    Important Note: Flights between Johannesburg and Sao Paulo are excluded from this policy

  • Original ticket FARE rules would not apply

    Customers would be able to use the value of their original ticket purchase as a credit towards the purchase of a new ticket on South African Airways operated and marketing flights

    Rebookings must be done by 31 March 2023. Once reissued, the standard ticket validity period would apply.

  • The value of the unused sectors on the affected tickets must be used by 31 March 2023. Once new ticket is issued, the standard ticket validity would apply.

  • Customers would be able to use the value of their original ticket purchase as a credit towards the purchase of a new ticket on South African Airways operated and marketing flights

    Should the value of the new ticket purchase be higher than the credit amount, you would be liable for the difference

    Should the value of the new ticket purchase be lower than the credit amount, the difference would be given back to you on a voucher to be used towards a future ticket purchase within 12 months from the date of issue.

     

  • Applicable to all FARE types

  • Customers would be able to use the value of their original ticket purchase as a credit towards the purchase of a new ticket on a South African Airways operated and/or marketing flight

    You may therefore opt to purchase a new ticket in a different cabin

  • Customers would be able to use the value of their original ticket purchase as a credit towards the purchase of a new ticket on a South African Airways operated and/or marketing flight

    Change of routing would therefore be permitted

  • Customers would be able to use the value of their original ticket purchase as a credit towards the purchase of a new ticket on a South African Airways operated and/or marketing flight

    Previous No-show passengers are only eligible for this waiver if the no show fee of the original ticket is applied at time of new ticket purchase

    Refunds would be permitted where applicable.

    Note:

    This procedure over-rides our standard Conditions of Carriage pertaining to Refunds and Ticket Validity

    The updated policy applies across SAA’s route network, including domestic, regional and international flights

    To demonstrate our care, the policy provides for changes for a period that extends beyond the industry norm (where ordinarily tickets are valid for 6 months only for domestic travel and 12 months only for international travel). This time, the value of unused sectors on affected tickets would be valid until 31 March 2023.

    South African Airways has not yet resumed operations but plan to restart soon. We have received a large number of refund requests during the lock down period and are currently working relentlessly to finalise these.  We appreciate your patience in this regard.

  • If you have purchased a ticket on or after 06 December 2019 on a route that is operated by Airlink, please read more.

    For tickets purchased prior to 06 December 2019 where Airlink was the operating carrier, follow the SAA Flight Suspension Policy.

  • In light of the Coronavirus pandemic, a number of countries have imposed travel restrictions. You may view information relating to the travel restrictions by accessing the below websites

    https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/

    To view the Travel Advisory and updates issued by the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation

    please click here

     

  • This waiver is applicable to all Voyager Awards including Companion Tickets

    Change of routing will be permitted for Voyager tickets booked in I and X classes subject to the new route being in the same award region

    Change of routing on Companion Tickets will be permitted subject to the required revenue ticket being on the same route

     

  • Customers who have booked through a travel agent should contact their travel agent directly.

    If you have booked your ticket directly with SAA we regret that our Contact Centres have had to temporary close. We would gladly assist you when we are back. You can also retain your ticket to be used as a credit at a later stage.