South African Airways Signs Contract with Boeing to Acquire New Fleet

South African Airways (SAA) has signed a contract with Boeing sealing the agreement for the lease/purchase of 21 Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft. The deal, valued at US$900m, will mean that SAA will operate a fleet that is technologically comparable to some of the top international airlines worldwide.

“This deal will ultimately benefit our customers,” said Mr Phillip Bekker, Regional General Manager, North Asia, South African Airways. “With these aircraft in place, SAA will be able to provide even more comfortable, reliable and technologically advanced planes, while offering more value, performance and significant cost savings to our customers in the long run.”

To date, three Next-Generation Boeing 737s have already been delivered to SAA. The remaining 18 aircraft will be added to the SAA fleet over the next 16 months. The new planes will serve the high frequency ‘Golden Triangle’ routes connecting Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban as well as provide service throughout Sub-saharan Africa.

With these aircraft, SAA will be the first airline in the world to have a fleet with ‘winglets’, a 2.4 metre high aerodynamic sail attached to the end of each wing. These wingtip extensions increase the aircraft’s range by up to 400 miles, reducing fuel burn and engine noise. Similarly, the aircraft engines are being optimised for SAA’s long-range operations with highly-efficient CFM engines.

This successful deal takes SAA one step closer to completing their strategic development programme, Strategy for Winning, which aims to make SAA the best airline in the world.

“This deal is the most cost effective and beneficial way of upgrading a new fleet,” said Mr Bekker. “With the deliveries of the new Boeing Next-Generation aircraft, SAA will have the youngest and more technologically advanced fleet in South African skies and throughout Africa.”