SAA Emerge from Chapter 11, Resume Intercontinental Flying. Adds GRU.

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South African Airways (SAA) is set to reintroduce long-haul flights for the first time in over three years, establishing a new route linking Cape Town and São Paulo. Additionally, the airline will resume services between Johannesburg and the Brazilian city.
Starting on Oct. 31, flights from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) to Sao Paulo's Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) will operate twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport route will also have two round trips per week on Mondays and Thursdays, beginning on Nov. 6.
These services mark SAA's return to intercontinental flying following a business restructure. The airline, once the largest in Africa, had faced persistent financial challenges over an extended period before the pandemic, relying heavily on government financial assistance to stay afloat.
In December 2019, the company entered business rescue, a process similar to Chapter 11 proceedings in the U.S. After emerging from this phase in May 2021, SAA has been gradually restoring its fleet and expanding its route network.
“Our decision to begin the relaunch of our long-haul service with São Paulo was taken based on a rigorous analysis of the viability of the route,” SAA interim CEO John Lamola says. “Sustainability has been at the heart of SAA’s approach since our restart.”
Cape Town- São Paulo will become the carrier’s first intercontinental route from Cape Town in 11 years since flights to London Heathrow ended in August 2012.
Cape Town Air Access (CTAA), a route development project established by the economic development agency Wesgro, highlighted São Paulo as the most significant unserved market with the highest growth potential for Cape Town and the Western Cape in 2019, before the onset of the COVID-19 crisis.