JOHANNESBURG. 17 November 2019 - A South African Airways (SAA) flight to São Paulo, Brazil, took off on Sunday as the airline began reinstating international flights.

“We are pleased that SAA 222 from OR Tambo International Airport to São Paulo, which was scheduled to operate on Sunday morning, is now airborne en route to Brazil. The return flight from São Paulo to OR Tambo International Airport is expected to operate as scheduled and arrive back in Johannesburg on Monday morning,” said Tlali Tlali, SAA’s Spokesperson.

Tlali said the other five international departures from OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday 17 November 2019, were flights to New York, London, Frankfurt, Munich and Washington DC via Accra.

The first departures from OR Tambo International Airport to Perth and Hong Kong are expected to operate as scheduled from Monday, 18 November 2019.

SAA’s departures from its international stations on Monday, 18 November 2019 include: London, New York, Washington DC (via Accra), Munich and Frankfurt to OR Tambo International Airport, are expected to arrive on Tuesday, 19 November 2019.

Passengers are advised to report to their departure airport as normal when in possession of a confirmed itinerary.

SAA’s domestic and regional flights remain cancelled.

SAA has been working with its subsidiary airline, Mango, and sister airline, SA Express, to re-accommodate as many customers as possible travelling on domestic services. Depending on availability, customers traveling to regional destinations are being re-accommodated on SA Airlink, a partner airline of SAA, and other airlines where possible.

South African Airways apologises to all its valued customers for the inconvenience and frustration caused by the cancellation of flights as a result of ongoing industrial action by the South African Cabin Crew Association and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa.

“We hope all our customers understand that the cancellations were beyond our control.  Wepledged to rebook all passengers caught up in the flight cancellations. We are working hard towards this goal and we are pleased to resume flights to all our international destinations,” Tlali said.

Customers seeking a refund or wishing to rebook their travel on a future SAA service have until 30 November 2019 to finalise their arrangements.