SAA to Boost Fleet Size, Set to Begin Daily Flights to Lagos

South African Airways has revealed plans to increase its fleet size to 50 aircraft in the next three years even as the carrier said it was set to commence daily flights between Johannesburg and Lagos.

John Lamola, the Chief Executive Officer of South African Airways who disclosed this during an exclusive dinner with CEOs of top travel agents and cargo partners in Nigeria at the Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, reiterated the airline’s unwavering commitment to rebuild and reposition itself as Africa’s leading network carrier.

Some of the Travel Agents and partners in attendance included Wakanow, Quantum Travels, American Express, Touchdown Travels, and Business Travel Management.

“We are consolidating our routes by having more frequencies. Lagos is not just one piece in our network but a very strategic route for us and by March 2026 we will have daily flights to Lagos. We also want to connect West Africa with Cape Town because the market demands it. The future going forwards is one of cooperation and holding hands together.

“SAA has grown from being a restart. We are repositioning and rebuilding the airline to survive on its own together with our strategic partners. We have a five years corporate plan of going through a renewal and modernization of our fleet and to elevate our customer experience grounded on our African uniqueness. The aim is to have 50 aircraft in the next three years. We have 20 now and we are expanding carefully,” Lamola said.

During a feedback session during the dinner event, some of the Travel Agents shared their experiences working with South African Airways for over 20 years.

Femi Adefope, MD, Skylogistics said: “It’s been an interesting time for us. The potential SAA saw in the Nigerian market many years ago still exists today. We are happy that our business is growing and we shall have more flights that will hopefully connect us to Cape Town. I am a diehard supporter of SAA and we will give you the support that I required.”

He added that the team of Kemi Leke-Bamtefa and Ohis Ehimiaghe are very professional, most knowledgeable and highly respected in the industry.

Yinka Folami, President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) welcomed the CEO to Nigeria and expressed delight with the impressive performance of SAA in the last financial year by turning profit, adding that; “On behalf of NANTA we want to say in all area of our industry concerns, SAA has no fault in any.”

On her part, the Country Manager for South African Airways in Nigeria, Kemi Leke-Bamtefa, thanked guests for their support and patronage over the years and stressed that South African Airways is a network carrier that offers seamless connections to various destinations.