South African Airways (SAA) is scaling down its flight operations as part of its turn around plan aimed at returning the airline to profitability and operational efficiency.

SAA had earlier announced it would introduce network enhancements which are in line with the implementation of its newly developed five-year Corporate Plan in order to improve schedule efficiencies.

Effective 29 October South African Airways will reduce its services to Port Elizabeth from 4 daily to 2 daily and East London from 3 daily to 2 daily.

On the regional operation, flights to Luanda (Angola) will be reduced from 7 to 4 per week and the aircraft type will be down gauged, and Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo) from 5 to 4 per week.

Flights to Brazzaville, Pointe Noir and Libreville with connections onward to Cotonou and Douala are under review. The airline says it is evaluating options to reduce operations or down gauge aircraft type.

According to Tlali Tlali, SAA spokesperson, “These changes will enable SAA to revise its schedules and frequencies as and when needed in order to meet the ever changing demand patterns across its network.”

As part of the turnaround plan, South African Airways appointed Mr Vuyani Jarana as its new Chief Executive Officer. The new CEO will start work at the airline’s headquarters on 1 November 2017.