South African Airways cleared to fly to Brazil

South African Airways (SAA) received authorization from the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) to operate flights to Brazil.

Operational approval is the final step for the SAA resumes its regular services in the country. From October 31, 2023, it will offer flights between The cap And Sao Paulo, while intercontinental operations from/to Johannesburg will resume on November 6. The two routes will have two weekly frequencies and will be operated with the Airbus A330-300configured to accommodate up to 249 passengers in two classes, 46 seats in business class and 203 in economy class.

South African Airways will have no competition on this route, unlike the one serving the same Brazilian airport since Johannesburg-OR Tambo a week later, since . LATAM has relaunched this axis, via a 787-9 configured to accommodate 298 passengers in early September 2023.

The resumption of the company’s flights at the international airport of Sao–Paulo–Guarulhos was announced at the end of June, after three years of financial adversity for the company and a worsening health crisis. These connections mark the return of the Star Alliance company to intercontinental flights, following a restructuring started in December 2019, even before the Covid-19 pandemic. South African Airways exited the process in May 2021, and has since started rebuilding its network. According to ANAC, the company joins 61 other airlines, of 38 nationalities, authorized to operate passenger flights in Brazil.