South African Airways Resumes Flights to Australia, Expanding Intercontinental Reach

South African Airways (SAA) is set to expand its intercontinental network with the resumption of flights to Perth, Australia. Scheduled to commence on April 28, this marks the airline’s return to Perth for the first time in over three years. The service from Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) to Perth Airport (PER) will operate three times a week, utilizing Airbus A340-300 aircraft.

This route reinstatement is part of SAA’s ongoing efforts to rebuild its long-haul services. The airline recently resumed flights to Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport from both Johannesburg and Cape Town International Airport, marking its return to intercontinental flying following a three-year hiatus due to a business restructure process akin to Chapter 11 proceedings in the U.S. Since emerging from this restructuring phase in May 2021, SAA has been progressively restoring its fleet and expanding its route network.

SAA CEO John Lamola emphasized the strategic significance of relaunching the Perth route, citing the high demand for travel between South Africa and Australia, particularly among those visiting family and friends. The route’s resumption is expected to facilitate easier travel for leisure and business purposes, enhancing trade and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Kate Holsgrove, Chief Commercial and Aviation Officer at PER, expressed the airport’s eagerness to work with SAA towards eventually restoring daily services. Before the pandemic, SAA had been operating daily flights on this route.

With this development, SAA will be the second carrier to offer nonstop services between South Africa and Australia, alongside Qantas Airways. Qantas currently operates six roundtrips per week between Johannesburg and Sydney and had also offered a seasonal Perth-Johannesburg route.

The return of SAA to Perth is part of a series of new service announcements for the Australian airport, signaling its growing status as a key international hub. These include Qantas’ upcoming route to Paris Charles de Gaulle, All Nippon Airways’ seasonal service from Tokyo Narita, Vietjet’s operations from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Airlines’ new flights from the same city, Singapore Airlines’ increased frequency from Singapore, and AirAsia’s introduction of flights from Kuala Lumpur.

SAA’s reentry into the Australian market underscores the airline’s recovery and commitment to expanding its global footprint, providing more options for travelers between South Africa and Australia.