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SAA Leases A330 Aircraft, Set to Add Flights to Lagos

Chidozie Uzoezie

Sep 19, 2025

2 min read

South African Airways (SAA) has leased an Airbus A330 from Hi Fly to maintain its full operational schedule while its wide-body aircraft undergo heavy maintenance from 15 September 2025 until the end of November 2025.

The leased A330-300 aircraft is configured with 249 seats, in line with South African Airways fleet, ensuring passengers continue to enjoy comfort and reliable connectivity across its network.

On behalf of South African Airways, Hi Fly will operate the aircraft on select regional and intercontinental routes, including Johannesburg to Lagos, Accra, and São Paulo.

Hi Fly is the largest Airbus Widebody aircraft wet lease specialist in the world. It is EASA and IOSA certified, and FAA approved, with AOCs in Portugal and Malta, and licensed to operate globally.

Passenger Experience and Expectations

While the Hi Fly-operated aircraft mirrors South African Airways A330 layout, there are key differences in the cabin that passengers should be aware of:

In-flight Entertainment: Entertainment will be available via streaming. Passengers are encouraged to bring their own device, headset, and power cord (BYOD).

Cabin Crew: For the first two months, flights will be staffed by Hi Fly crew, whilst the SAA crew completes regulatory training to support service delivery and ensure brand continuity.

Network Growth and Increased Connectivity

The leasing of this additional aircraft enables South African Airways (SAA) to strengthen and expand its presence across key regional and international routes.

Once the A330 returns from maintenance, SAA will have access to one additional aircraft for the remainder of the lease term. This will allow the airline to increase flight frequencies on the following routes: