South African Airways
South African Airways airlines are the South African national airways also known as Suid-Afrikaanse Lugdiens. The largest African air carrier was established on February 1, 1934, after the acquisition of Union Airways by the South Africa government. In 1935, the airlines were taken over by another carrier, South West African Airways.
Initially, the South African lines only offered local flights. On May 24, 1940, because of World War II, the airline’s air operations were suspended, and the carrier’s airplanes were intended for military purposes. After the war, in 1953, the airlines made their first flight to London, to Heathrow airport, with three stopovers in Nairobi, Khartoum and Rome, but since 1956, after the introduction of Douglas DC-7 aircraft, flights from Johannesburg to London have taken place with only one stop in Khartoum. In 1961, SAA lines began daily flights to London and Paris via Brazzaville and Rome. From March 1967, the network of connections has been joined by Australia, and from February 1969, by North and South America. Today, South African planes land at 37 international airports in 26 countries in Africa, Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australia. The carrier has signed many codeshare agreements with other airlines; besides, it belongs to Star Alliance and also operates flights for other members of the alliance.