CHICAGO - SAA is bucking the aviation trend as it comes to the end of its restructuring program in March and plans for a period of moderate growth and renewal. Jason Krause, head of network development, told TravelHub at the Star Alliance conference here yesterday, that the airline has made some breakthough progress in developing itself as the prime African carrier. In addition to starting a new route to Dakar via Douala, Cameroon, (see today's related story) SAA has managed to aquire fifth freedom rights that will allow it to make full use of its West African services. Dakar will become more important as a hub. In addition to its flights from Washington and extending its Libreville / Abidjan flights on to Dakar it will also offer the new Douala/Dakar service. Having negotiated fifth freedom rights to all these destiinations, SAA will be in a strong position to fly passengers originating in North America to all these West African destinations. They will be able to fly there from Washington through Dakar or from New York via Johannesburg.