SAA: Connecting Africa to the world

South African Airways is undergoing a strategic revival under Group CEO John Lamola. With new long- haul routes and growing Gulf partnerships, it is positioning itself as Africa's flagship carrier.

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With 91 years of aviation history, South African Airways (SAA) is leveraging its legacy to reposition itself in the global market.

Under Group CEO John Lamola, the company is pursuing sustainability, profitability and renewed international standing. “SAA is connecting Africa to the world and the world to Africa,” he says.

Now SAA has crafted a measured expansion strategy, building on net profits of R252 million for the 2022-2023 financial year, which also saw revenue rise 183%. “We focused on planning and ensuring we control our cost structure,” says Lamola. “We have strengthened our balance sheets and excavated several assets that are investable, like our property portfolio, and tapped into several lucrative investments around the world, such as lending parking slots,” he adds.