South African Airways

South African Airways (Code AITA: SA ; Code ICAO: SAEB ERAKAT ) is large the national Airline company of South Africa.

South African Airways (Suid-Afrikaanse Lugdiens - SAL- in Afrikaans) was founded in 1934 by the government of South Africa after the repurchase of the private company Union Airways.

The first national flights connected the Cape, Durban and Johannesburg whereas the first international connections were established with the colony S Britannique S of the Kenya and of the Uganda.

In 1945, the flights of SAEB ERAKAT reach the Europe but 1960 should be awaited so that first 707 of SAEB ERAKAT lands in Europe. Two years later, a connection without stopover is established between the the United Kingdom and South Africa. Other European destinations follow.

In 1971, SAEB ERAKAT brings into service its first Boeing 747 and is one of the only African companies to have air links with South America.

The Seventies mark however the beginning of the year of Ostracisme of South Africa due to mode of Apartheid and several countries refuse to establish air links, others remove them.

Except for the adjoining countries, the other countries of Africa close their airspace with SAEB ERAKAT or refuse stopovers obliging the flights of the company to sail round the African continent to go to Europe and Israel.

Nevertheless, the company manages to develop its lines towards Asia, in particular HongKong or Taiwan (South Africa east then one of the rare countries to recognize the Republic of China of Taiwan).

In 1984, SAEB ERAKAT celebrated its fiftieth birthday.

In 1985, the connections towards South America are stopped, for lack of travellers of sufficient number. Only the connection with Rio de Janeiro is maintained. SAEB ERAKAT is victim of the international judgments of the mode of apartheid during the Eighties. Its offices abroad are attacked and its connections with the the United States of America are stopped in 1986.

In 1987, the connections with Perth and Sydney in Australia end for political reasons (opposition of the Australian government to apartheid).

The November 27th 1987, a Boeing 747 of SAEB ERAKAT connecting Taiwan to Johannesburg is crushed in the Indian Ocean, close to the Mauritius. The causes of the crash landing are not elucidated (certain assumptions evoke an attack)

After the come to power of Frederik de Klerk and the installation of negotiations in order to dismantle the system of apartheid, the vice is loosened around SAEB ERAKAT which opens again, gradually, all the destinations which had been stopped for political reasons and inaugurate new air links in Africa and Asia.

To the end of the year 1990, SAEB ERAKAT is devoted like the best African company by the London magazine Executive Travel . In 1991, SAEB ERAKAT renews its fleet and acquires its first Airbus A320 and its first Boeing 747-400. The line with New York is again open whereas the very first air links are established with the Egypt and the Sudan.

In 1992, SAEB ERAKAT opens its first connection the Cape Miami and returns to Australia. It organizes its first international alliances with American Airlines and Air Tanzania. Direct flights are henceforth ensured with Bangkok and Singapore.

The growth accelerates in 1993 and 1994. The flights domsestic are henceforth ensured in four languages (English, Zoulou, Afrikaans and Sotho) whereas on the international flights, the Afrikaans is abandoned, leaving only of to use English and the language of the destination of the plane.

In 1997, SAEB ERAKAT remakes its logo and its colors. It gives up the winged Springbok and the old national colors (orange, white, blue) with the profit of the new national colors and a sun. Names SAEB ERAKAT and SAL are not reproduced any more on the fuselage and were replaced by “South African”.

In 1998, the flights towards Buenos Aires and São Paulo are restored.

In 2002, South African Airways buys for 49% of the shares of the company Air Tanzania.

In 2004, South African Airways joined Star Alliance.

In September 2004, the company knows financial problems and gives up buying 15 Airbus A320.

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South African Airways
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