The renewed South African Airways (SAA) plans to start returning its planes to the skies from 23 September 2021, the company said in a statement made available to the media this week. In a tweet, the airline notes that:

The Wait Is Finally Over. In Just Under A Month, The Striking And Familiar Livery Of SAA Will Once Again Be Visible In The Skies As The Airline Resumes Operations. The Carrier Has Confirmed The First Flights Will Commence On Thursday, 23 Of September 2021. #FlySAA Pic.Twitter.Com/6fkmL5z6Ym 

— SAA – South Africa (@Flysaa) August 25, 2021

Tickets for SAA flights will go on sale from 26 August 2021. Voyager bookings and Travel Credit Voucher redemption will be available from 6 September 2021, according to reports from the airline.

“After months of diligent work, we are delighted that SAA is resuming service and we look forward to welcoming onboard our loyal passengers and flying the South African flag. We continue to be a safe carrier and adhering to Covid-19 protocols,” said SAA’s interim CEO Thomas Kgokolo.

In the initial phase of the national airline’s return, the company will begin by operating flights from Johannesburg to Cape Town, Accra, Kinshasa, Harare, Lusaka and Maputo. SAA says that more destinations will be added to the route network as it ramps up operations in response to market conditions.

“There is a profound feeling of enthusiasm within Team SAA as we prepare for take-off, with one common purpose – to rebuild and sustain a profitable airline that once again takes a leadership role among local, continental, and international airlines,” said Kgokolo.

“The aviation sector is currently going through a testing period, and we are aware of the tough challenges that lie ahead in the coming weeks.”

This latest statement from SAA did not indicate what the latest progress is with the ongoing due diligence process of the airlines chosen strategic equity partner, Takatso Consortium.

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In June, South Africa lost the majority stake in SAA through a deal with Takatso.

A 51% black-owned enterprise that comprises pan-African investor group Harith Global Partners and aviation group Global Aviation, the consortium is expected to initially pump R3-billion into the airline. SAA will retain its name and will be domiciled in South Africa.

Two weeks ago, SAA received two leased Airbus A320 passenger aircraft. These aircraft were among the aeroplanes SAA sent back to lessors during its lengthy business rescue process.

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The Airbuses were placed in storage and given six-year maintenance checks in Abu Dhabi during this time.

SAA has since told employees in an internal memo that the due diligence process with Takatso is gaining momentum and plans are well advanced for cargo and charter flights.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry

As the new CEO of the struggling South African Airways (SAA) Thomas Kgokolo  and his executive team promise to hit the ground running in coming weeks, meeting with important stakeholders in efforts to rebuild confidence in the entity. Chairperson of the Airline, Geoff Qhena has expressed worries about the take-off of the Airline harping on the delicate task at hand as SAA prepares to exit business rescue and resume operations.

But the road ahead for the troubled flagship airline is not going to be easy, says Qhena. The board has appointed Kgokolo interim CEO and other executives to ensure an orderly changeover from business rescue and a safe landing to normalised operations.

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The Airline’s business rescue practitioners (BRPs) had set 31 March 2021 as the end date for the process. However, the airline remains in business rescue, which is expected to conclude any day now, pending the fulfilment of certain regulatory and administrative requirements. The carrier was placed under business rescue in early December 2019, a process which has cost millions of rands — and counting.

Qhena is a seasoned professional, having cut his teeth in the state-owned enterprises space: his most recent high-profile position was chief executive of Industrial Development Corporation, a development financier. Qhena, a qualified chartered accountant, vacated that post in 2018.

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“It will be disingenuous of us to say it’s going to be easy going forward. It’s not going to be,” says Qhena.

That is why the interim board has roped in Kgokolo and others to steer the operational end of SAA’s move out of business rescue. The board’s mandate is limited to oversight, while operations are reserved for executive management. Kgokolo is also a chartered accountant and holds an MBA from the Gordon Institute of Business Science, where he was a lecturer of corporate finance.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry

South African Airways (SAA) is continuing to get back on its feet to once again become a functioning airline. As part of this saga, currently within a drawn-out business rescue process, SAA will be getting new leadership in the form of an interim CEO named Thomas Kgokolo. This will make him the airline’s fifth CEO in five years.

The April 13th appointment of Thomas Kgokolo as SAA’s interim CEO makes him the carrier’s fifth CEO within five years. Kgokolo is a certified chartered accountant, having built up a career for himself in the public sector. Education-wise, Kgokolo holds a master’s of business administration degree from the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS). Kgokolo has also been a lecturer in corporate finance at GIBS.

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South Africa’s Eye Witness News notes that Kgokolo holds 15 years of public sector experience and more than 10 years of experience at a non-executive director level.

Kgokolo fills a vacant position, made empty when Philip Saunders left the airline in December 2020. Saunders had taken over from Zukisa Ramasia, who resigned in March 2020. Ramasia had held the interim CEO position since 2019, after the resignation of Vuyani Jarana.

Since SAA entered into its current business rescue process almost 16 months ago, the embattled airline has had three CEOs. At this point, there is no firm timeline for when the airline will be operating once again.

In his new role, Mr. Kgokolo’s main task will be to ‘hold down the fort’ and oversee a smooth transition out of the airline’s business rescue proceedings. Kgokolo will have to prepare the airline for re-entry into the market, which will include making peace with SAA pilots, who have been threatening to strike due to a four-month-long lockout and unpaid wages.  

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Eye Witness News adds that Kgokolo will reportedly bring some fresh and insightful perspectives on how to deliver value for the airline. Providing leadership and strategic direction to employees and stakeholders is also reportedly a strong point for the new CEO.

SAA’s fleet has diminished over the past few years, with lease aircraft going back to lessors. This includes Airbus A350s and A330s. There has yet to be a firm date on SAA’s restart. Its website notes that domestic and regional flights will remain canceled up to, and including, June 30th, 2021, as per a statement issued on March 29th. For now, bookings for July 1st and onwards will “remain in place for now,” with the airline adding that “the cancellations pertain to the ongoing business rescue process and travel restrictions with respect to COVID19.”

Meanwhile, a mid-February posting states that international flights will remain canceled up to, and including, October 30th, 2021.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry