South African Airways
(SAA) is celebrating its 80th anniversary of flying in the global skies.
The airline was founded in February 1934, and since its establishment has faced many changes, experienced many changes and some turbulent times.
Through the years, SAA and its employees have shown extraordinary residence and capacity for change.
However, the South African National carrier has grown to become a modern technologically advanced airline that flies millions of people every year.
SAA has been an award winning airline over the years and recently received for the 12th consecutive year, the 4-Star airline ranking from Skytrax, the independent global airline rating organisation.
The airline also remains the only carrier on the African continent to achieve this high level 4-Star Airline rating. The airline’s safety record and its outstanding on-time performance remain key drivers as to why customers choose to fly with South African Airline.
Apart from SAA celebrating its 80 years of existence, the SAA Group celebrates more achievements this year, which include SAA’s frequent flyer programme, Voyager, who was one of the first ever frequent flyer programmes in Africa, also celebrates its 20th anniversary this month. SAA’s low cost operator Mango will also be celebrating turning a later in the year.
The airline is set for a return to profitability with its long-term Turnaround strategy, Gaining Altitude in place which sets a long-term view for returning the airline to profitability. The strategy sets five strategic objective which are support for South Africa’s national development agenda.
To achieve and  maintain commercial sustainability, providing excellent customer service, Achieve consistent, efficient and effective operations and faster performance excellence.
The Gaining Altitude strategy is well into its implementation phase and specific milestones have been reached- loss making routes such as Bujumbura and Kigali, have been closed, with the route to Buenos Aires to be closed end of March 2014.