South African Airways Plans to Restart U.S. Flights

South African Airways is planning to restart services to the U.S. East Coast before the end of next year.

The carrier previously offered services to two destinations in the United States. South African flew to New York-JFK and Washington Dulles before suspending intercontinental flights in March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

South African flew non-stop between New York and Johannesburg, using Airbus A340 aircraft. In 2019, it introduced Airbus A350s on this route.

The carrier also flew between Washington and Johannesburg, using Airbus A330 aircraft. However, these flights included an intermediate stop in each direction. Five of these services operated via Accra, Ghana, and two went via Dakar, Senegal.

Speaking to media in Ghana, SAA’s CEO John Lamola said that the airline intends to reintroduce services to the U.S. via Accra. The carrier intends to pick up and drop off passengers in Accra with these services and would thus need to obtain the necessary approvals.

Sizable Ghanaian communities are living in the United States, especially in the Washington area. SAA is therefore hoping to tap into this business.

Lamola said that South African Airways hopes to reintroduce its U.S. flights before the end of 2026. However, the launch of these services may be subject to delays due to regulatory processes and the availability of aircraft.

The airline currently has a fleet of 19 aircraft, including two Airbus A340s, two A330s, 13 A320s, and two Boeing 737s. SAA uses the Airbus A340s for its Perth services and the Airbus A330s for flights to Sao Paulo, which it services from both Johannesburg and Cape Town.

South African Airways has gradually been expanding its route network and flight schedule since its restart in September 2021.

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Lorne Philipot

Lorne is a South Africa-based aviation journalist. He was captivated and fascinated by flying from the day he took his first airline flight. With a passion for aviation in his blood, he has flown to destinations in all corners of the globe. Lorne has traveled extensively and lived in various countries. Drawing on his travels and passion for aviation, Lorne enjoys writing about airlines, routes, networks, and new developments.

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