13/05/2026
Despite challenges, SAA is poised for a comeback ✈️💪🇿🇦
Acting Group CEO Matshela Seshibe champions the airline's recovery strategy, dismisses concerns over potential bailouts, and details measures to enhance governance, restore credibility, and ensure operational sustainability.
South African Airways (SAA) has faced significant turbulence in recent years. It entered business rescue in 2019 and emerged in 2021, currently operating a fleet of 19 aircraft across 17 destinations. However, controversy has resurfaced. CEO Professor John Lamola and several board members resigned in April amid allegations of poor accounting practices and substantial operational losses.
While SAA reported a profit of R155 million for the 2025 financial year, this figure was primarily bolstered by asset sales, including its Heathrow slot. The airline's actual flight operations reportedly incurred losses of around R1 billion, raising serious concerns about the possibility of another government bailout in the near future. This comes after SAA received approximately R40 billion in bailouts from 2018 to 2023.
Additionally, the Auditor-General of South Africa issued a disclaimer audit for SAA’s 2025 financial statements, indicating they were too unreliable to verify.
Today, our focus is on SAA, our national carrier, and I am committed to doing everything I can to support its ongoing success and recovery.