SAA news & offers

4 Jun 2012

Closing date for the SAA Paint the Plane competition, where school kids & students could win an all expenses paid trip to the London Olympics.

26 Mar 2012

The Competition Commission rules that Singapore Airlines & SAA have to pay fines for fixing flight prices on the Johannesburg - Hong Kong route. Singapore Airlines must pay R25.1m and South African Airways R18.8m. The investigation started in 2008 after Cathay Pacific applied for leniency. Under the settlement, cases against South African Airways with respect to pricing strategies for the 2010 Fifa World Cup, and collusion in international cargo charges & domestic route prices are being dropped.

24 Feb 2012

A South African Airways plane skids off the runway when it lands at Sao Paulo Airport. No passengers are injured.

31 Jan 2012

SAA commences flights between Johannesburg & Beijing, China, using an Airbus A340-600. Flying time is some 15 hours, and the flight leaves JNB at 08h00 on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The return flight leaves Beijing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 06h40 (arriving at JNB at 15h40 the following day).

26 Jan 2012

South African Airways launches flights between Johannesburg and Pointe Noire, in the Congo

17 Jan 2012

SAA commences direct flights from Johannesburg to Kigali (Rwanda) and onward to Bujumbura (Burundi) in an A319 aircraft that can accommodate 120 people in a 2-class (business and economy) configuration.

16 Nov 2011

Change to South African Airways' Passenger Service Charge.

Effective : for travel on/after 15 November 2011 

Ticket Code : ZA

Applicable : For both Domestic and International Travel

Definition : Levied on all passengers departing on international and/or domestic flights from South African Airports. 
(Johannesburg JNB, Cape Town CPT, Port Elizabeth PLZ, Durban DUR, Bloemfontein BFN, Sun City NTY, Upington UTN, Mala Mala AAM, East London ELS, George GRJ, Lanseria HLA, Kimberley KIM, Mmabatho MBD, Margate MGH, Malelane LLE, Phalaborwa PHW, Pietersburg PTG, Polokwane PTG, Pietermaritzburg PZB, Plettenbergbay PBZ, Richards Bay RCB, Skukuza SZK, Umtata UTT, Nelspruit NLP / MQP, Hoedspruit HDS Ulundi ULD.) 

Charges : 
The following revised Passenger Services Charges will apply with immediate effect (10 November 2011). All carriers operating services to/from and within South Africa must collect the following Passenger Services Charge “ZA” from all passengers departing from South African Airports as follows:-

Notes: -

1. Please note that all tickets issued prior to 03 OCT 2011 for travel commencing on/before 31 DEC 2011 and return travel on/after 01 JAN 2012, taxes to be levied will be the combination of the two applicable taxes.
   Example: MQP-JNB travel 17 Feb 2011 tax ZAR 50.00(old); PTG-JNB travel dated 10 Aug 2011 tax ZAR 63.00 (new)
   
   

2. Domestic Departures linked to an International Departure – 
   In the case of a ticket with a domestic flight and a transfer to an international flight (e.g. PTG-JNB-LHR), for all tickets issued and for travel commencing on/before 31 DEC 2011, ZAR 227.00 must be levied, i.e. ZAR 177.00 (International) + ZAR 50.00 (Domestic). For travel commencing on/after 01 JAN 2012, ZAR 349.00 must be levied, i.e. ZAR 299.00 (International) + ZAR 63.00 (Domestic). The same principle is applicable for domestic departures linked onto departures to a Neighbouring Country (see b) above).
   
   

3. Exemptions : 
   - Infants under two (2) not occupying a seat.
   - Passengers who do not disembark from an aircraft after such an aircraft has landed at an airport and who remain on board that aircraft until such aircraft takes off from that airport. 

31 Oct 2011

SAA launches flights to Bujumbura (Burundi, 3 times a week),Cotonou (Benin, twice a week) and Kigali (Rwanda, 3 times a week). A319 aircraft will be used. The airline will withdraw from the JNB - Gaborone route effective from 7 August 2011, and SA Express will increase its frequency with a smaller gauge aircraft.

South African Airways general manager commercial, Theunis Potgieter, says “Simultaneously adding three new destinations to our African route network will strengthen our already expansive route network. SAA aims to increase travel options for the convenience of its customers and to ensure that South Africa remains both a major destination in its own right and a key transit point for connecting long-haul international and regional African destinations.”

1 Oct 2011

SAA begins Johannesburg to Ndola flights.

1 Sep 2011

South African Airways starts flying Johannesburg to Beijing, following SA having joined the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).

11 Aug 2011

South African Airways alerts clients about a phishing scam: "We would like to advise you that there is currently a phishing scam underway which, amongst other companies, targets our customers as a way of getting to your Voyager log-in details, as well as personal information.

The scam involves e-mails with the subject given as: PASSENGER ITINERARY RECEIPT, "thanking" customers for their purchase, stating that their booking is confirmed, giving a booking reference number, as well as the credit card charge and then asking the customer to follow a link.

Please be advised that these e-mails are NOT from South African Airways (SAA), or our Customer Care department as is wrongfully stated in the e-mail. SAA advises you to immediately delete such an e-mail and not enter any personal information. No matter how authentic such e-mails may seem, any e-mail supposedly from the airline that has a link to the Voyager log-in page, is not from SAA.

In addition, please do not click on such a link, as it will take you to a fraudulent website where your Voyager log-in and your PIN may be compromised.

If you have transacted via the SAA website using your Voyager log-in details during the last 72 hours and are unsure of the legitimacy of the transaction, please contact our call centre on +27 11 978 1234 during office hours (07h00- 21h00) to reset your selected Voyager PIN."

Jul 2011

ACSA stats demonstrate that SAA was the most on-time airline in July 2011.

18 Jul 2011

58 SAA planes are specially branded with the Nelson Mandela Day logo (picture of Mandela with his fist in the air) for Nelson Mandela's 93rd birthday; on the head rest covers and on the outside of the aircraft. Achmat Dangor, Nelson Mandela Foundation chief, says that "By this initiative, this means SAA will expose its passengers about the Mandela Day message and hopefully they will spread the message to their families and friends."

18 Jun 2010

Due to volcanic ash, SAA cancels flights from and to Cape Town, East London and Port Elizabeth.

1 Nov 2010

SAA Cape Town - Durban flights stopped, code-share on Mango Airlines continues.

13 Sep 2010

Cheapest SAA Oct flights for each day in October 2010, R660 from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth.

15 Jul 2010

SAA KPMG report on irregularities at SAA.

23 Jun 2010

SAA Bafana Bafana sale for the Fifa World Cup.

25 Mar 2010

SAA is named official carrier of the US World Cup team.

12 Mar 2010

South African Airways agrees with Airbus to lease 6 new long-haul A330-200 aircraft in 2011, replacing SAA's existing and ageing A340-200s.

1 Apr 2010

Siza Mzimela, the South African Express Chief Executive, is appointed CE of South African Airways, replacing acting head of SAA, Chris Smyth. "I can confirm that we have appointed a new CEO, she is Siza Mzimela. She will come in (at SAA) one day a week in March and in April she will go one day a week to SA Express, just to tie up things", said SAA spokesperson Vimla Maistry.

23 Jan 2010

The SAA website experiences downtime as a result of SAA not renewing it.

11 Dec 2009

SAA flight 601 from Durban to Cape Town rejects takeoff after an engine ingested a bird (a yellow-billed kite). The plane was an Airbus 319-100. Passengers disembarked in Durban and were flown to Cape Town on another flight.

28 Sep 2009

Cheryl Carolus is appointed chairwoman of the SAA board by Public Enterprise minister Barbara Hogan, replacing Proj GJ (Jakes) Gerwel.

Jun 2009

SAA plans to increase their flights between Johannesburg and Buenos Aires to 3 a week.

15 Jun 2009

SAA & Air India enter into a codeshare agreement.

1 May 2009

SAA to introduce non-stop flights on the Johannesburg - New York route.

Apr 2009

SAA starts flying the Douala - Johannesburg route (2 weekly).

8 Apr 2009

SAA's first flight from Johannesburg to Buenos Aires (Argentina). SAA start off with twice-weekly flights on the route.

2 Apr 2009

It is announced that SAA purchased 40% of CEMAC Airline, following failed talks with Brussels Airlines and Royal Air Maroc (RAM). CEMAC is the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, consisting of Cameroon, Chad, the Central African Republic, Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

23 Mar 2009

An SAA flight from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth, returns to O.R. Tambo International Airport and makes an emergency landing after an oil leak is discovered.

10 Mar 2009

It is announced that Khaya Ngqula, SAA's Chief Exectutive, has had his contract terminated. It later becomes known that SAA paid Ngqula R9.35m to terminate his contract early (he was paid a total of R13.65m in the year through to March 2009, as well as receiving “travel benefits” of 5 international flights, 90 domestic flights and 1 regional flight).

Mar 2009

SAA adds on extra weekly flight on the Libreville - Johannesburg route.

17 Feb 2009

A sub-committee of the SAA Board appoints KPMG's Forensic Unit to conduct a forensic audit into the following issues:

• The issue of retention premiums;

• Alleged issues of a conflict of interest;

• Issues of procurement

16 Feb 2009

The entire crew of 15 of SAA234 are arrested in London Heathrow for possession of illegal goods.

11 Feb 2009

Khaya Ngqula, SAA's Chief Executive, is sent on special leave (meaning he gets his full current remuneration), after the South African Transport & Allied Workers Union requested an investigation of procurement procedures. On the 16th Feb the Board appointed Chris Smyth, General Manager of Operations, as acting Chief Executive.

20 Jan 2009

An entire SAA cabin crew are detained (and later released) at London after 50kg of marijuana and 4kg of cocaine are discovered in luggage - see SAA drugs bust.

1 Jan 2009

On 24 Dec 2008 TAP Portugal and South African Airways sign a codeshare agreement for the Johannesburg - Lisbon flight route, and also includes flights to Port Elizabeth, Durban, Cape Town, East London, Porto, Funchal and Faro. Subject to government approval, the agreement will take effect from January 2009.

18 Dec 2008

SAA plane pulling the big five and Santa on a sled.

11 Dec 2008

A South African Airways flight from Johannesburg hits a stationary truck after landing at Lusaka International Airport (Zambia)

29 Nov 2008

An SAA strike by its call centre staff (Voyager & flight reservations) starts with pickets near O.R. Tambo International Airport. It ends the following evening, after SAA agree not to outsource its Voyager call centre to Dimension Data.

16 Nov 2008

The Times newspaper accuses Khaya Ngqula, the SAA chief executive, of issuing Voyager miles to a private investigator he hired to spy on his staff, in violation of the company's policies.

7 Nov 2008

SAA announces that it will be outsourcing its call-centres (including reservations and Voyager).

26 Oct 2008

SAA expands its codeshare with All Nippon Airways to include flights from Hong Kong to Narita Airport, Tokyo, Central Japan.

Oct 2008

Caught on the receiving end of some shabby treatment from South African Airways, Justin Hartman starts a site at saasucks.com (the name says it all!) - link removed as it stopped working.

Jul 2008

SAA requests R2.9bn from the SA government.

5 Jul 2008

Elsabé Manning takes an SAA flight to Windhoek (Namibia), but unfortuanately her luggage does not get there. Manning, the owner of the Success Factory, later sues SAA for R200,000 as she was forced to present in casual clothes and without the books which she was going to give as gifts to the audience.

16 Jul 2008

SAA reports a net loss of R1.09bn for the year to 31 March 2008 (excluding restructuring costs there was a profit of R123m). SAA cut 1196 jobs.

5 Jun 2008

SAA wins the OAG Airline of the Year Award for the "Best Airline Based in Africa".

24 Feb 2008

After receiving a tip-off from Brazilian police, police at Johannesburg Airport (OR Tambo) find 120 kilograms of cocaine in the cargo section of an SAA aircraft travelling from Sao Paulo to Johannesburg. The final destination of the cocaine was Durban.

Feb 2008

Swissport international takes over the ground handling of South African Airways flights.

Feb 2008

UCT students take the piss in their Sax Appeal article, "South African aircrimes"

Feb 2008

Following the evidence given by Nationwide Chief Executive, Vernon Bricknell, to the court; SAA pays Nationwide Airlines an undisclosed amount to settle the issue of it getting sued for anti-competitive behaviour.

14 Dec 2007

Following the departure of Captain Colin Jordaan (to head up the South African Civil Aviation Authority), SAA appoints its Chief Pilot, Captain Jonny Woods, as its Head of Flight Operations. Woods joined SAA in 1974, becoming a training Captain in 1981 and Chief Pilot in 1998.

2 Nov 2007

An SAA plane gets its nosewheel "stuck"in the sand, at Cape Town International Airport, after mistiming a turn while taxying.

Jul 2007

SAA launches its Johannesburg - Munich route with 3 flights per week.

10 Jun 2007

SAA staff resigning in anticipation of retrenchments

6 Jun 2007

6 Jun 2007: Part 3, Seabury report - what they missed

5 Jun 2007

South African Airways pays R55 million to South Africa's Competition Commission, as a result of price-fixing and other anticompetitive actions.

4 Jun 2007

4 Jun 2007: Part 2, Ngakula provides high level restructuring plan

Jun 2007

SAA awards a R240-million tender contract to Starcom to handle its advertising & marketing. Billy Modise is a shareholder in Starcom Worldwide as well as being a member of the South African Airways board (joined mid-2006). In January 2009 it was ruled by the South Gauteng High Court that the awarding of the contract to Starcom be reviewed and set aside. Starcom is owned by Lobedu Communications Group, a company controlled by Modise’s Koni Media Holdings (in Nov 2006 Koni Media bought a 51% stake in Lobedu Communications) & Groovin Nchabeleng.

3 May 2007

3 May 2007: Part 1, Erwin cracks the whip

31 Mar 2007

Transnet summaries the losses which SAA have caused since 2004: "In summary, since 2004 Transnet has injected, out of its own funds, R8,4 billion in cash (into SAA) which has now been written off."

Mar 2007

SAA enters into a codeshare agreement with All Nippon Airways, for flights between Hong Kong and Osaka (SAA operates flights between Johannesburg and Hong Kong).

13 Jun 2006

Transnet concluded a share sale agreement with the Department of Public Enterprises for the sale of Transnet’s shares in SAA with effect from 31 March 2006, subject to the fulfilment of certain suspensive conditions. A sale price of R2 billion was based on an independent valuation. The suspensive conditions included the enactment of a law setting up South African Airways as an independent company, Air Services Licensing Council approval, International Air Services Council approval, third-party contractor approval and the listing of South African Airways as a Schedule 2 public entity in terms of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). All the suspensive conditions were fulfilled and Transnet recorded the disposal of SAA in its annual report to 31 March 2007.

31 May 2006

South African Airways is fined R45 million for trying to stop travel agents from dealing with SAA's competitors.

Apr 2006

SAA becomes a full member of the Star Alliance (having applied for membership in March 2004).

2005

Flights between Johannesburg and Zanzibar (Tanzania) and Johannesburg and Livingstone ( Zambia) commence.

Jul 2005

Four times weekly flights between Washington and Johannesburg commence.

2005

A Competition Commission tribunal fines SAA R45m for anti-competitive behaviour, after ruling that South African Airways' incentive schemes for travel agents was an abuse of its dominant position designed to impede competitor airlines in South Africa.

May 2005

The Sunday Times reveals how Khaya Nqgula made 15 helicopter rides to meetings in Gauteng which were within driving distance of each other, at a cost of more than R4000 an hour.

Apr 2005

Mr Dan Moeti and Mr Kyri Acton appointed Chief Risk Officer and Chief Operating Officer (respectively) of SAA.

Nov 2004

The SAA board approves project Bambanani (a Zulu word meaning "working together holding hands"), a corporate strategy to return SAA to profitability through three pillars: (1) a cost reduction program, (2) re-aligning the skills of SAA's staff to the needs of the business, (3) setting up an enterprise risk management system.

15 Oct 2004

Dr Khaya Ngqula joins SAA as Chief Executive Officer and member of the board.

Aug 2004

Andre Viljoen resigns as Chief Executive Officer of South African Airways, and also resigns as a member of SAA's board.

Mar 2004

In its financial statements to the end of March 2004, Transnet reported that it had recapitalised SAA by R6.1bn near the end of its financial year (which ended on 31 March 2004), as a result of an a fair value adjustment (2004 - R4,5 billion, 2003 – R5,3 billion) to the SAA hedge book over the previous two years. SAA had purchased currency forwards that fixed the rate at which it would exchange rands for dollars at R10.85 for a US Dollar. However, the rand strenthened against the US dollar meaning that South African Airways was paying more than market rates for its US dollars. SAA used the Transnet recapitalisation monies to closed the hedge book at a total cost of R6.0 billion by 30 June 2004.

SAA suffered a net loss of R8.7bn in the year to 31 March 2004, leaving it technically insolvent to the tune of R2.6 billion.

31 Mar 2003

SAA is technically insolvent to the tune of R1.4 billion.

2002

South African Airways purchases 49% of Air Tanzania.

Mar 2002

SAA CEO Andre Viljoen announces that a $3.5 billion fleet renewal contract has been awarded to Airbus, including orders for 15 Airbus A320, 11 A329s, 9 Airbus A340-600s and 6 A340-300s. SAA had been longtime Boeing customers.

This followed test flights on Airbus and Boeing aircraft, in which practically the entire board took part. SAA decided that Airbus should fly first, and Airbus plied their guests with sales chat and champagne in a 4-engined A340 - their sales message was that "four engines are better than two", and emphasised that this was especially true in hot, high airports like Johannesburg where engines need to work harder. 

Boeing countered that 4 engines were twice the trouble, and when the A340 landed, Boeing's Toby Bright transfer the SAA board onto his B777. As the 777 roared down JNB's runway, though, 1 of its 2 Rolls Royce Trent 800 engines seized up with a bang and take-off had to be aborted. 

"We had to screech to a stop on the runway, taxi back and park beside the A340 and John Leahy was standing there. It was the worst experience of my sales life. As soon as I saw the engine had blown I knew we had lost." said Bright.  

Airbus won the SAA contract but the Boeing 777 has gone on to outsell the Airbus 340 six to 1.

2001

On 4 October 2001 Swissair filed for a moratorium of debt enforcement, with the Zurich courts, which appointed a provisional Administrator over the SairGroup. The appointment of a provisional Administrator constituted an "event of default" in terms of the Shareholders Agreement between Swissair, Transnet and SAA, entitling Transnet (if not remedied) to various contractual remedies under the Shareholders Agreement including the right to terminate the shareholders agreement and reacquire Swissair's 20% shareholding in SAA at a price of 85% of the current value of such shares. Swissair acknowledged the event default and informed Transnet that it was not in a position to remedy the event default and waived any rights to be afforded a 30 day period provided for in the shareholders agreement in which to remedy the event of default. As a consequence, Transnet became entitled to terminate the Shareholders Agreement and to re-acquire the 20% in South African Airways at 85% of the Fair Value of such shares. On 2 November 2001, Transnet issued a termination notice in terms of the Shareholders Agreement of which the effect was to implement the procedure for the reacquisition by Transnet of Swissair's 20% shareholding in South African Airways. At a special Board meeting of Transnet on the 18th October 2001, it was resolved that Transnet should exercise its right to terminate the shareholders agreement and re-acquire Swissair's 20% shareholding in South African Airways. South Africa's Cabinet endorsed this strategy on 21 November 2001.

2001

Andre Viljoen is named Chief Executive Officer of South African Airways.

1 Apr 2000

South African Technical is incorporated as a seperate company with its own board of directors.

1 Mar 2000

SA064 leaves the runway on landing at Lusaka. There are no deaths and no injuries.

2000

SAA acquires 21 Boeing 737-800s.

Feb 2000

Coleman Andrews states that South African Airways is valued at R8.5 billion.

Jan 2000

SAA introduces its new Cycad first class lounge.

25 Jun 1999

Thabo Mbeki (South African President) announces SAirGroup, the parent of Swissair, had agreed to purchase 20% of South African Airways from Transnet (Swissair also had an option to buy another 10% of South African Airways). The agreement had been signed in London by P Bruggisser (SAirGroup's Chief Executive Officer) and S Macozoma (Managing Director of Transnet). , SAirGroup had purchased its stake for R1.4-billion.

1 Apr 1999

SAA becomes a proprietary limited company.

1998

Flights to Buenos Aires are relaunched and flights to Copenhagen are discontinued. Flights from Johannesburg to Lagos (Nigeria) are launched.

16 Jun 1998

South African daily newspapers announce that Michael Myburgh is being axed, and that Coleman Andrews, a "43-year-old American spin-doctor" will be joining SAA as its Chief Executive.

1997

SAA launches a "frequent freighter" program.

1997

SAA starts selling plane tickets online. An alliance is formed between SA Airlink, SA Express and SAA.

1996

Flights from Johannesburg to Singapore are stopped.

28 May 1996

SAA unveils "Ndizani", a specially multi-coloured 747 for use during the Olympic Games in Atlanta.

3 Jul 1995

SAA's Cadet Pilot Training Programme is launched to provide historically disadvantaged individuals with the opportunity to become SAA pilots.

2 Dec 1994

A new African airline, Alliance Air is launched in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This is a three-way venture between SAA & the governments of Tanzania & Uganda.

13 May 1994

SAA introduces multi-lingual greetings on board domestic flights in English, Zulu, Sotho and Afrikaans. On international flights, passengers are greeted in the relevant destinations language.

25 Mar 1994

SA Express is granted a licence to operate domestically and SAA becomes a shareholder.

1993

Michael Myburgh replaces Gerrit van der Veer as Chief Executive Officer.

1993

Flights to Hamburg and Manchester commence.

21 Oct 1993

Introduction of twice weekly flights to Dubai.

1992

Flights to Singapore and Bangkok are launched. Flights from Cape Town to Miami are launched.

6 May 1992

SAA's first scheduled flight to Cairo, since 1 Nov 1956.

18 Jan 1992

SAA relaunches flights to Australia.

5 Dec 1991

SAA makes its first flight to Moscow (Russia), to pick up the Moscow circus.

3 Nov 1991

SAA flights between New York and Johannesburg resume.

8 Sep 1991

For the first time in 28 years, SAA flights are allowed over Sudan and Egypt. South African Airways receives its first Boeing 747-400 and Airbus A320.

1 Jul 1990

Parliament approves the deregulation of the domestic air travel market.

1 Apr 1990

South African Airways is made a division of Transnet (100% owned by the South African government).

1987

SAA museum is opened at Jan Smuts Airport (later to be renamed Johannesburg Airport, and later still to be renamed OR Tambo Airport).

28 Nov 1987

SAA flight 295 from Taipei (Chiang Kai Shek Airport) to Johannesburg, the Helderberg, crashes near Mauritius, losing all 140 passengers and 19 crew on board.

27 Oct 1987

Flights between Perth and Johannesburg are stopped, as are flights between Sydney and Johannesburg, after the Air Services agreement between the South African and Australian government is terminated.

9 Nov 1986

As a result of US economic sanctions, flights between New York and Johannesburg are suspended. The US also withdraws from its landing rights in South Africa.

1985

Flights to Buenos Aires are stopped.

1 Feb 1985

Business class is introduced on domestic flights.

1983

South Africa's first identified AIDS patient, an SAA flight attendant, dies.

1983

SAA's first non-stop flight between London and Johannesburg (enabled by the delivery of a Boeing 747-300 SUD).

Apr 1981

A three-class service is introduced for flights to Australia - Blue Diamond First Class, Gold Class for Business Passengers and Silver Class for Economy class passengers.

11 Apr 1980

First weekly flight between Johannesburg & Taipei via Mauritius.

6 Dec 1979

Introduction of a weekly return service between Johannesburg & Mauritius via Durban with a Boeing 707 156-seater.

2 Dec 1978

SAA negotiates the purchase of 2 Boeing 747's, to enable direct non-stop flights between Johannesburg and London.

6 Jan 1977

SAA's Boeing 747-SP makes its first scheduled flight between Johannesburg and Sydney, Australia. The flight offers movies and audio on 5 channels.

Jul 1976

An express cargo service is introduced on domestic routes.

24 Apr 1976

An SAA Johannesburg-Lisbon-Rome-Athens flight, becomes the world's first commercial flight using a Boeing 747-SP.

Apr 1975

SAA opens a lounge at Jan Smuts Airport, for its first class passengers.

11 Feb 1975

SAA's first landing at Victoria Falls Airport with a Hawker Sidley 748 aircraft.

3 Sep 1973

SAA's first non-stop flight between London and Johannesburg.

May 1972

In the first hijacking of an SAA aircraft Fouad Kamil (aka Flash Fred, a Lebanese diamond agent) and Abou Yaghi, armed with sticks of dynamite, force South African Airways Captain Blake Flemington to land his Boeing 727 in Letaba (it was on its way from Rhodesia to Johannesburg. Kamil's demand was that Anglo American Chairman Harry Oppenheimer meet them at Chileka Airport in Blantyre. Once the majority of the passengers and Flemington had escaped and the plane was surrounded by Malawian troops, Kamil and Yaghi surrendered, and spent a few months in jail before being released.

6 Nov 1971

SAA's first a Boeing 747B, ZS-SAN "Lebombo" arrives at Jan Smuts Airport.

23 Feb 1969

Flights from Johannesburg to New York are launched (via Rio de Janeiro), in SAA's Boeing 707 "Bloemfontein".

2 Aug 1968

Flight BA129 VC10 from London Heathrow landed with fire engines deployed to avert risk. Aircraft landing gear lights had not come on and aircraft was circled above Johannesburg for an hour to use up excess fuel. Safe landing, no injuries.

26 Mar 1968

The first flight between Johannesburg's Jan Smuts Airport and Rio de Janeiro, takes place in a Boeing 707.

29 Mar 1967

A weekly jet service between Australia and South Africa is introduced.

4 Apr 1961

A daylight flight to London and Paris is introduced, flying via Brazzaville & Rome.

Oct 1960

South African Airways' first 707 lands in Athens.

Nov 1957

Launching of flights to Australia (Perth).

1 Feb 1955

SAA's fleet now consists of 25 aircraft.

1953

South African Airways becomes the first airline outside the United Kingdom to operate a jet aircraft (BOAC's De Havilland Comet). The De Havilland Comet is used in SAA's Comet Springbok service from London to Johannesburg.

17 Apr 1952

Jan Smuts International Airport is opened near Kempton Park and SAA's Skymaster "Tafelberg" performs the first official landing there.

30 Jan 1949

SAA begins weekly Johannesburg-Cairo services with DC-4s.

May 1948

A cinema is introduced on the direct services between Johannesburg and Cape Town and on Skymasters operating the Springbok route.

1 Jan 1948

Palmietfontein becomes the Johannesburg terminal for all SAA services.

1 Sep 1946

SAA introduces air hostesses on aircraft that serve internal destinations.

1945

SAA operated its first flight from South Africa to the UK (an Avro York flew from Johannesburg's Palmietfontein Airport to Bournemouth's Hurn Airport). The flight was via, Nairobi, Khartoum, Cairo and Castel Benito with overnight stops in Nairobi and Cairo.

19 Apr 1945

The International Air Transport Association is founded at Havana. SAA is one of 44 active founding members.

1 Dec 1944

SAA resumes civil services.

24 May 1940

SAA becomes a military wing and all commercial services are suspended.

4 Jul 1937

SAA extends the weekly Johannesburg-Lusaka service to Broken Hill, Nairobi and Kisumu.

9 Jun 1937

First regional service between Johannesburg-Pietersburg-Bulawayo-Livingstone-Lusaka with Ju52/3m.

1 Jul 1935

SAA moves from its headquarters in Durban to Rand Airport, Germiston.

1 Feb 1935

SAA purchases South-West African Airways, and inherits 2 Junkers A 50 and a Junker F13.

1 Nov 1934

SAA introduces Junkers Ju52/3m, the first multi-engined aircraft used on South African local services. The aircraft was configured to carry 14 passengers and a crew of 4.

1 Feb 1934

After purchasing Union Airways, the South African government renames it South Africa Airways (SAA). During 1934 SAA operates flights between Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban. SAA fell under the control of South African Railways and Harbours.

31 Dec 1931

The Fokker "Red and Yellow Monster" crashes.

29 Jan 1930

Union Airways begins transporting passengers in the Fokker "Red and Yellow Monster". The first passenger on a South African commercial flight, Dr RD Laurie, becomes violently ill shortly after takeoff from Port Elizabeth. Laurie recounts the experience: "In those days there were no paper bags, and no soft-handed hostesses to stroke a man's fevered brow, you know. I slid open a small glass side window and stuck out my head. To vomit against a 120-mile wind was no easy matter."

24 Jul 1929

Union Airways is founded by Major Allister Miller (known for recruiting about 2000 South African for service in the Royal Air Force in World War I), as an internal South African airmail carrier flying DH60 Gipsy Moth biplanes. Union Airways was initially based in Port Elizabeth (Fairview Aerodrome), but operated flights between the main centres of South Africa.