Exciting news for travelers, South African Airways has welcomed a new aircraft.
The move was taken to ensure the business can serve its consumers better, offering more flight options.
SAA took to social media to unveil the new plane. The aircraft is called ZS ~ SZN.
SAA shared a video of the plane taking off with the caption: “Our #SAAfleet just got bigger! Welcome to the fam, ZS ~ SZN ✈️🇿🇦.”
The airline currently has 20 aircraft.
It welcomed two other aircraft earlier this year.
In a statement posted in January on its website, the airline announced that it “added two aircraft to its fleet in the last two weeks, successfully growing its fleet size to 20 aircraft.”
The state-owned entity is rising despite numerous challenges, such as a bailout and downsizing recently.
“This is a remarkable achievement considering that just over three years ago, the airline emerged from business rescue with just six aircraft. Since 2021, the team at SAA has worked strategically and consistently to grow the fleet and route network sustainably. These additional aircraft will enable SAA to continue fulfilling our promise to add seat capacity in both the domestic and regional markets and thereby contributing to the affordability of passenger air travel, ” said Professor John Lamola, interim CEO at SAA.
The airline hopes to add five aircraft to its fleet during the 2025 calendar year.
“SAA’s fleet growth comes as the airline enters a phase of consolidation, increasing the frequency of flights to service an existing route network, to ensure South African leisure and business travellers enjoy more direct access to major African cities. In addition, SAA Cargo facilitates trade links between economic hubs across the continent and beyond,” Lamola added.
Expansion of routes
According to Southern Africa's Travel News, SAA Chief Commercial Officer Tebogo Tsimane announced during the recent Africa’s Travel Indaba that the airline’s plans to expand its routes:
Johannesburg-George, launching April 2026
Johannesburg-East London, launch date still to be confirmed
Cape Town-Durban, launch date to be confirmed
Regional routes
Johannesburg-Gaborone, launching October 2025
Seasonal flights between Cape Town and Mauritius are launching in November 2025.
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