South African Airways (SAA) has confirmed that it will introduce network changes on the domestic and regional segments of its route network to improve operational efficiency.

According to the airline, the changes relate to the replacement of the airline's aircraft on certain routes and not total withdrawal.

The changes are part of the airline’s implementation of its newly developed five-year Corporate Plan that seeks to return the company to financial sustainability in the shortest time possible.

The planned network changes are to optimise SAA’s schedule through the introduction of its airline partners. It will leverage its partnership with its sister airlines and will still maintain its SA code in those markets.

For the customers, this means that the airline will continue to provide services to the affected markets, albeit rendered by its partner carriers who will be operating on those routes.

According to SAA, it will honour its obligations to all ticketed passengers who purchased tickets in advance and no existing or future customers will experience an adverse impact due to the introduction of the partner carriers, as the change will be managed seamlessly.

SAA said it would soon announce the details of impacted domestic and regional routes as well as the commencement dates for these changes.