SAA wants to reinstate international flights from Cape Town, according to the new chairman of the SAA board, Vuyisile Kona.

Speaking on the Keno Kamies show on Cape Talk radio on October 10, Kona said he was struggling to understand how the decision to suspend flights from Cape Town to London was made under the previous management of the airline. He said it would not be easy to reinstate direct flights as SAA had sold the Heathrow slot, but said he was talking to the Mayor of Cape Town to try and understand what Cape Town’s flight requirements were. Similar talks were taking place with authorities in KZN, he said.

SAA axed its Cape Town Heathrow flights in August citing unprofitability of the route and the need to strengthen its Johannesburg hub as the reasons.