South African Airways

This is a very sensitive facet of South African Airways Cargo, and specialised care and precautions are taken to ensure that all animals big and small travel safely and comfortably.

Most pets are granted access on domestic and international flights as cargo to be transported in the cargo compartment. However, the following countries do not allow domestic pets to be loaded in the cabin or to be carried as excess baggage: Hong Kong, United Kingdom, Zambia, Mozambique, Brazil, Namibia, Australia and Angola.

As a precautionary measure it is best to consult with the local embassy or consulate for more specific animal transport regulations in their countries. Certain restrictions will apply when travelling with domestic pets:

• No pets will be loaded in the cabin area except where dogs lead the blind
• No access to pets during flight will be permitted
• Pets under the age of 8 weeks will under no circumstances be accepted for carriage by air

All animals bound for South Africa on an international flight must be carried as manifested cargo in the cargo compartment, as stipulated in terms of the existing legislation. A further restriction imposed by South African Airways on its flights within South Africa is that animals (including domestic pets) must be loaded in the cargo compartment of the aircraft.

The container must be large enough to permit the animal to stand in a natural position, turn and lie down. Containers must be nose and paw-proof, that is, all ventilation holes shall be of a size that makes it impossible for the animal to protrude its nose or paw. Containers for carriage by air will only be accepted for transport if animals are in suitable clean containers, which are leak-proof and escape-proof. It is mandatory to attach at least one IATA “Live Animals” label or tag, properly completed, to each container housing a live animal. In addition, “This Way Up” labels must be placed on all four sides of the container in the upright position. These labels are available free of charge if the animals are transported by South African Airways Cargo.

All restrictions and requirements of the IATA Live Animals Regulations must be complied with as a minimum standard for safe transport of live animals.

Customers are advised to contact the airline timeously for advice or further information

The following consignments are examples of valuable cargo: value $1000.00 per kilogram, gold bullion, bank notes, diamonds, jewellery consisting of diamonds, rubies, emeralds etc., articles made of gold and / or platinum etc.

Precious metals and stones, foreign currency, cell phones, SIM cards, cheque books, credit and phone cards. All such cargo is handled daily with speed and most importantly, safely by South African Airways Cargo’s dedicated service provider.

We have the leading edge when it comes to the transportation of perishable goods to local and international destinations. Be it flowers, seafood, fresh fruit and vegetables or any other non-frozen perishable products you wish to transport, there is a cool room facility, meeting the Perishable Products Export Control Board’s (PPECB) most stringent quality criteria, available to suit your particular needs. The speed, reliability, economics and controlled conditions of carriage by air provide the ideal method of transporting perishable commodities.

Transportation of human remains is sensitive and emotional. South African Airways Cargo has thus put more effort into this service to ensure speedy and safe passage. This service is available to all South African Airways destinations and receives priority booking. It is advisable that customers consult with undertakers for information regarding health requirements

Dangerous goods are substances or objects that are capable of causing significant risks to health, safety and property when being transported by air.

When transporting the above, comprehensive and stringent safety regulations apply. We have highly qualified people to handle the transportation of dangerous goods by air.

Class 1

Explosives are substances or devices having an explosive effect, e.g. toy caps, detonators, igniters, grenades, fireworks, cartridges.

Class 2

Gases: Compressed, liquified, dissolved under pressure or highly refrigerated, e.g. cigarette lighters, compressed oxygen, aerosols.

Class 3

Flammable liquids are liquids, mixtures of liquids or liquids containing solids in solution or in suspension that discharge a flammable vapour at medium temperatures e.g. paints, alcohol, petrol, benzine, brake fluid.

Class 4

Flammable solids: substances liable to spontaneous combustion or substances that, on contact with water, emit flammable gases e.g. phosphorous, potassium, matches, firelighters etc.

Class 5

Oxidising substances: organic peroxides are substances that normally do not burn but, when exposed to oxygen, can set fire to other materials e.g. bleaching powder, potassium permanganate, disinfectants, pool chemical etc.

Class 6

Poisonous (Toxic) and infectious substances: substances that can cause death, injury or health problems if swallowed, inhaled or if skin contact occurs e.g. pesticides, cyanide compounds, rodenticides, or substances containing viable micro-organisms or their toxins known, or suspected to cause disease in humans or animals, e.g. bacterial agents.

Class 7

Radioactive materials means any material containing radio-nuclides where both the activity concentration and the total activity in the consignment exceed the values specified in the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, e.g. uranium, carbon-14 etc.

Class 8

Corrosives: are substances that, in the event of leakage, can cause severe damage by chemical action when in contact with living tissue or that can severely damage other cargo or the aircraft e.g. hydrochloric acid, instruments containing mercury etc.

Class 9

Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods: These are substances or articles not covered by other classes and which might be a source of danger during air transportation. These include magnetised material which might affect the flight navigational systems, and other regulated substances which might cause extreme annoyance or discomfort e.g. dry ice, asbestos, polymeric beads, engines internal combustion, consumer commodities, environmentally hazardous substances etc. All restrictions and requirements of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations Manual must be compiled with by all.

And you wondered how all those postcards reach you so fast? Well, they fly! South African Airways Cargo is proud to move thousands of kilograms of mail every month to over 80 international post offices. The service includes the priority carriage of mail for the following categories of mail: diplomatic mail, courier material, service mail, accompanied diplomatic mail and free baggage allowance for diplomatic couriers.

Mail handling has its own department , with a sophisticated accounting software system to efficiently manage the movement of mail.

We offer a wider network through use of the SAA passenger network. The bulk of our cargo is carried via the belly space of the passenger aircraft.