By: Natasha Archary

South African Airways (SAA) has celebrated a milestone as the airline relaunches direct flights to Perth, Australia.
The airline’s first flight to Perth took off from OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday, 28 April and landed in Perth on Monday, 29 Apil.
This milestone comes after SAA, one of the world’s oldest airlines, spent a turbulent time in business rescue to prevent the airline’s complete collapse.
SAA spent 16-months grounding the airline in order to reduce operating expenses, and laid off almost 1 000 employees at the time.
Since then, SAA has been extending it’s flight routes and Public Enterprises Minister, Pravin Gordhan affirmed that the airline isn’t going anywhere.
Gordhan expressed confidence in the Board and Executive Management of SAA to steer the national flag carrier to greater heights.
SAA’s CEO, Prof. John Lamola says the airline is soaring to new heights in its 90th year.
“This is our second inter-continental route, but what makes this special is that it is an inter-oceanic route where after SAA has risen after the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a slow and measured way, we are building SAA as a connector for people of South Africa and the world, and a stimulant of trade, commerce and tourism.
The route to Perth was strategic because we are in the same geolocation in the southern hemisphere, and Australia is a gateway to Australasia, including to New Zealand.
In the same light, South Africa is the gateway to the rest of Africa, so we are really combining two geolocations that have an immense economic as well as people to people potential.”
SAA CEO Prof. John Lamola
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