South African Airways (SAA) Tickets and Information

South African Airways (SAA) is South Africa's leading carrier, and largest domestic and international airline company. South African Airways, rated by performance, revenues, safety and other criteria, is the best and most profitable airline in Africa, and one of the top airlines in the world.

South Africa's national carrier flies locally between Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, East London, Bloemfontein, George, Pietermaritzburg, Mthatha, Kimberley, Polokwane, Richard's Bay, Upington, Nelspruit/Kruger, Hoedspruit, Margate, Phalaborwa, Mmabatho, Manzani and Maseru. In Africa, it flies to Zambia, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, and Mozambique.

International destinations include Sao Paulo, New York City, Washington D.C., London, Frankfurt, Munich, Mumbai, Hong Kong, and Perth. Most international and intercontinental flights operate from Johannesburg. The only intercontinental routes from Cape Town are to London and Frankfurt. SAA also proudly operates numerous domestic and regional routes as well. SAA has a long, complex, if not controversial history.

The first cities to be served were Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg, the three main cities of South Africa. Soon, SAA started serving between Windhoek and Kimberley, providing weekly air-mail services. Soon SAA went international, and started flights to Kenya and Uganda. SAA was closed during WW2, but began operating once more in 1948. After many ups and downs during Apartheid, SAA finally introduced a new image after the end of the regime. This new image involved dropping the springbok emblem and the old South Africa national colours of orange, white and blue, and changing it to the new national flag, as well as a symbol of the sun.

The official Afrikaans name 'Suid Afrikaanse Lugdiens' was also dropped. SAA also formed a powerful alliance with SA Airlink and SA Express. With SAA being the top aviation network in South Africa, it wasn't long before it garnered the prestigious title of best airline in Africa at the 2008 Skytrax World Airline Awards, based on an annual survey by British aviation experts Skytrax.. SAA boasts an impressive fleet of the most sophisticated aircraft in Africa. Among the fleet of aircraft are;

• 11 Airbus A319-100,
• 6 Airbus A340-200,
• 6 Airbus A340-300,
• 9 Airbus A340-600, and
• 17 Boeing 737-800.