Page 56 - Aviation News (February 2020)

routes in a mixed business /economy class
configuration. The 727s were eliminated
from the fleet in 1983, replaced by the
more economical 737-200. In order to
maximize revenue from its fleet, each time
countries withdrew landing rights for SAA
in the light of the anti-apartheid boycott,
SAA leased aircraft and crews out to airlines
in Canada, Mauritius, Brazil and Morocco.
The international opposition caused many
problems for SAA. Company offices were
attacked in Harare (Zimbabwe) and the USA
banned all flights by South African-owned
carriers in 1986. The following year, services
SAA took delivery of eight Vickers Viscounts in 1958 to be used on the main domestic flights.
They were sold to British Midlands Airways in 1972, ZS-CDT becoming G-AZLP. It is now with the to Perth and Sydney were ended.
North East Air Museum in Sunderland. Bob O’Brien Collection Apartheid came to an end in the early
1990s and as a result, boycotts by countries
were lifted and SAA could resume services.
Flights to New York JFK started again in
November 1991 and SAA aircraft were
able to fly for the first time over Egypt and
Sudan in September. Flights to Athens were
re-introduced, and Milan was added to the
flight schedule.
The first of eight Boeing 747-400s
arrived in South Africa on January 19, 1991.
The SAA fleet was unusual in that it was
equipped with two different engine types.
Six of the aircraft were powered by Rolls-
Royce engines, whereas two others had
Boeing 707-300, ZS-CKE, was one of three of the type used by SAA and were delivered in 1960.
AirTeamImages.com/ATI Collection General Electric powerplants, as they were
part of an unfulfilled Philippine Airlines
Africa’s neighbours, denied SAA the use a total of 29 737-200s between 1968 and order. The GE-powered aircraft were able
of their airspace due to their opposition 2006. The Dakotas gave way to Hawker to fly non-stop from South Africa to the
to apartheid, necessitating long detours. Siddeley HS748 turboprops in 1970, with the East coast of the USA. The Airbus A320 was
SAA bypassed the ‘bulge’ of Africa, usually last DC-3 making its final revenue flight in ordered and between 1991 and 1993 seven
via Ilha do Sal (Cape Verde) – a detour of September that year. were delivered, which were used on both
almost 1,900 miles (3,058km). Another domestic and regional services.
roundabout route was via Tel Aviv. To meet NEW AIRCRAFT, NEW In 1992, SAA began flights to Miami via
these challenges, SAA also ordered the DESTINATIONS Cape Town and returned to Australia, flying
Boeing 747SP. These aircraft allowed them The arrival of new aircraft allowed SAA directly to Sydney. There were direct flights
to exploit their long-range capabilities and to start up new routes. From June 1974, to Bangkok and Singapore, although the
were used on lower-density routes. Boeing 707s were used on a service to latter was discontinued in 1996. An airline
The first SP arrived in South Africa Hong Kong with an intermediate stop in alliance between SAA, Uganda Airlines
on March 19, 1976 and would serve the Seychelles. It also initiated a service to and Air Tanzania also started. In 1993,
until 2006. On April 24, 1976 SAA’s first Taipei using a 747SP. three Boeing 767-200ER aircraft joined
commercial flight using a 747SP was on The Airbus A300 joined the fleet and on the fleet and would remain in service till
the Johannesburg-Lisbon-Rome-Athens December 26, 1980 the last SAA Boeing 2004. These aircraft were used to fly to the
route. As the 747s entered service, the 707 revenue flight operated between Paris Middle East, African countries and some
smaller 707s were converted to combi- and Johannesburg. Its touchdown ended European destinations.
passenger/cargo configurations and high- the 20-year career of the quadjet. The
density seating. European aircraft had first joined SAA in REBRANDING
By March 1972, the Viscounts were 1976 and some of the nine aircraft would In April 1994, South African Express started
sold to British Midland Airways after being remain in use until 2001. They would its operations after a three-year preparation
replaced by Boeing 737s. SAA would use be used on both domestic and regional process. SAA initially held a 20% stake in the

SAA operated nine Boeing 727s on its routes
in Southern Africa. Bob O’Brien Collection

54 AVIATION NEWS FEBRUARY 2020

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