South African Airways' flight resumption draws closer
South Africa's national carrier, South African Airways (SAA), which is now 51% privately owned by the Takatso Consortium, has taken another important step towards flight resumption with the arrival of two Airbus A320.
The two aircraft have been in storage and have accomplished 6-year maintenance "C-Checks" in Abu Dhabi during the carrier’s time in business rescue. Over that period both aircraft underwent rigorous technical checks and have been fully cleared for passenger flights. The two Airbus A320, which are licensed to carry 138 passengers, are displaying SAA livery and will, once hangered, undergo minimum routine maintenance and re-installation of mandatory SAA equipment. According to news reports, South African Airways (SAA) is planning to initially resume domestic flights linking Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. No official re-launch date has been set so far, but news sources from South Africa are expecting the airline to be in the air again by early September 2021. South African Airways (SAA) received a renewed air operator's certificate (AOC) by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) on 04 August 2021. We'll keep you posted!
