South African Airways Plans Ghana-US Fifth Freedom Route

South African Airways has announced plans to launch fifth freedom flights from Cape Town via Accra to the United States by the end of 2026. The move is part of the airline’s broader West African expansion strategy and aims to strengthen its position in the transatlantic market.

Speaking in Accra on April 8, 2025, CEO John Lamola emphasized Accra’s role as a strategic hub for the airline’s future long-haul operations. Lamola said that regulatory processes and aircraft availability are the primary challenges, but SAA is committed to launching U.S.-bound services from Ghana, specifically targeting cities on the East Coast.

The airline is also considering a direct Cape Town–Accra route and plans to increase its Johannesburg–Accra frequency from four to seven weekly flights, subject to fleet availability. Discussions with Ghana’s transport minister are ongoing to enhance bilateral air connectivity.

Before entering business rescue in 2019, South African Airways operated flights to New York JFK and Washington Dulles, the latter via Accra or Dakar. The airline resumed operations in 2021 with six aircraft and has since expanded to a fleet of 20, with five more aircraft expected to join in 2025.

SAA’s current fleet includes leased A320-200s and A330-200s, owned A340-300s, and wet-leased Boeing 737s. The airline is focused on increasing frequencies on existing routes and providing more direct access to key African and international destinations.

SAA’s growing international network now includes São Paulo, Perth, Accra, Abidjan, Lagos, and other major cities across Africa, Latin America, and Australia.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com