South African Airways CEO Signals Fleet Growth & West Africa Expansion
SAA’s daily Johannesburg-Lagos flights start March 2026, with Washington, D.C. returning and fleet expanding to 50 aircraft
South African Airways (SAA) signals ambitious expansion, with CEO Professor John Lamola outlining a vision to strengthen operations and grow the fleet.
Following visits to Lagos, Accra, and Dakar, he shared, “These visits have been instrumental in South African Airways’ mission to rebuild and strengthen our position as Africa’s leading network carrier.”
Daily Johannesburg–Lagos Flights & Fleet Expansion Plan
In Lagos, discussions centred on fleet modernisation, with Lamola confirming plans to expand SAA’s fleet to 50 aircraft “within three years.”
He also announced, “daily Johannesburg–Lagos flights starting March 2026,” marking a boost in West African connectivity.
Accra–Washington, D.C. Route Revival by Late 2026
Accra remains a key hub, and Lamola reaffirmed its importance, hinting at Washington, D.C. flights returning by late 2026, adding, “our engagements in Accra reaffirmed the city’s importance in our network.”
SAA–Air Senegal Partnership Strengthens West African Connectivity
In Dakar, SAA is focused on enhancing regional connectivity, engaging in strategic partnerships—including discussions with Air Senegal. Lamola states:
“These engagements reflect our unwavering commitment to building robust operations and meaningful partnerships across West Africa.”
Looking ahead, he expressed optimism, declaring, “The future is bright for South African Airways.” This positive outlook, he conveyed, stems from the anticipated benefits of the planned expansion on the airline’s operational efficiency and the overall passenger experience.