SAA is accelerating its recovery path with a significant increase in flight frequencies to African destinations from November.

The national carrier’s Johannesburg-Lubumbashi flights will begin on November 4. It already flies to Kinshasa, with flights to both DRC cities operating five times a week.

The airline will operate 12 weekly flights to both Harare and Lusaka, an increase from the current ten times a week to Harare and seven to Lusaka.

Flights to Lagos and Accra will increase from three to four times a week.

The airline will also begin flying twice daily to Mauritius from the beginning of December to coincide with the peak holiday season. This is a year-round addition.

Frequencies to Perth will be upped to five times a week from January 7.   

Domestically, flights to Gqeberha will increase from twice-daily to three times daily.

In a media release, SAA Interim CEO, Professor John Lamola, noted that after rapid route expansion since 2021, SAA now aimed to consolidate its position and strengthen its role in connecting Africa.

“South Africa has seen a promising travel recovery this year, with most visitors coming from other parts of Africa. Our strategic growth focuses on expanding routes based on demand and feasibility. We are also guided by our unique mandate as a national carrier to ensure that we help grow South Africa’s economy. Air travel plays a key role in building our tourism and trade links across Africa, which benefits both South Africa and the continent as a whole,” Lamola said. 

Speaking of Lubumbashi, Lamola added that there was strong market demand in South Africa and the DRC for direct air connectivity between the countries.

“Demand is driven by business, trade, and the fact that Johannesburg and Lubumbashi are mining powerhouse cities of the continent,” Lamola noted.