South African Airways (SAA) will restart flights to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Monday after a five-year break, which the airline describes as a “major advancement in its recovery following restructuring and its strategy for regional growth.”
The return of daily flights to Tanzania’s economic centre comes after the airline achieved its first profit in over a decade last year, marking a crucial step forward that has opened up avenues for expansion.
Interim CEO John Mamola highlighted that the choice to bring back the Dar es Salaam service is of strategic significance.
“Given the considerable South African investments in Tanzania, this decision is anticipated to enhance trade between the two nations,” Mamola said, adding that the airline’s return is likely to “enhance business travel and strengthen trade links between South Africa and Tanzania.”
SAA’s reinstatement of flights to Dar es Salaam comes after Air Tanzania reestablished its services to South Africa in November following a similar five-year absence.
Air Tanzania’s flight suspension to South Africa in 2019 was due to legal issues that led to one of its planes being detained in Johannesburg. This situation strained diplomatic relations and disrupted air travel between the two countries for several years.
Having faced significant difficulties recently, South African Airways has undergone a comprehensive restructuring process prompted by serious financial troubles that necessitated urgent government intervention in 2021.
