South Africa Airlines plans to resume US flights

South Africa Airlines plans to resume services to the US East Coast by the end of next year.

The carrier previously served two US destinations. South Africa suspended intercontinental flights in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic after flying to New York-JFK and Washington Dulles.

South Africa used Airbus A340 aircraft to fly non-stop between New York and Johannesburg. In 2019, the Airbus A350 was introduced on this route.

The carrier also flew between Washington and Johannesburg and used an Airbus A330 aircraft. However, these flights included intermediate stops in each direction. Five of these services were operated through Accra, Ghana, and two were through Dakar, Senegal.

Speaking to Ghanaian media, SAA CEO John Lamora said the airline intends to reintroduce services to the US via Accra. Carriers will be required to obtain the necessary approvals as they intend to pick up and drop Accra passengers on these services.

A considerable number of Ghanaian communities live in the United States, particularly in the Washington area. Therefore, SAA wants to take advantage of this business.

Lamora said South African Airlines hopes to reintroduce US flights by the end of 2026. However, he said the launch of these services could be affected by delays due to regulatory processes and aircraft availability.

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 Perth Service and the Airbus A330S for flights to Sao Paulo, which serves both Johannesburg and Cape Town.

South Africa Airlines has gradually expanded its route network and flight schedule since its reopening in September 2021.

Lorne is a South Africa-based aviation journalist. He was fascinated and fascinated by flying from the day he received his first airline flight. With his passion for aviation in his blood, he flew to every corner of the globe. Lone travels extensively and lives in various countries. Based on his passion for travel and aviation, Lorne enjoys writing about airlines, routes, networks and new developments.

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Lorne is a South Africa-based aviation journalist. He was fascinated and fascinated by flying from the day he received his first airline flight. With his passion for aviation in his blood, he flew to every corner of the globe. Lone travels extensively and lives in various countries. Based on his passion for travel and aviation, Lorne enjoys writing about airlines, routes, networks and new developments.

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