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established in 1934, is South Africa’s largest domestic and international airline. SAA was one of the first national airlines in the world.Modern day SAA has hubs in Cape Town and Johannesburg. It is owned by Transnet, a public transport company. Two percent of the stocks are held by SAA’s 9,000 employees.

Employees receive intensive advanced training programs to help SAA maintain its reputation for excellent customer service. It serves 31 cities in 25 countries, carrying more than 7 million passengers per year. Recently a member of the exclusive Star Alliance, the connection vastly extended the number of destinations SAA flies to. Skytrax, the British experts on aviation ratings, declares SAA one of the best international airlines in terms of products offered and service standards.

One of the top airlines in the business is the SAA. The SAA, or Suid-Afriaanse Lugdiens in Afrikaans, is always ranked as the top performer, safest and money making airline. There are also many other catagories in which they rank high.

In 1934 the first cities served by SAA were Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban. Later, SAA added flights to Kenya, British East Africa and Uganda signaling an entrance to the international market. In WWII the airline was more or less shut down but by 1945 SAA had achieved it’s long term goal of opening a European route by introducing a flight to Bournemouth.

The SAA brought the 707 to it’s airline in the 1950’s. It was the next one in line, after the UK, to operate a pure jetliner flight. These jets would finally start to fly non-stop to the UK and it’s European neighbors within two years. Then New York was added as a stop in 1969. The fleet now claims a fleet of more than 45 aircraft.

SAA’s loyalty program, Voyager, has nearly 2 million members. Members can earn airmiles on SAA as well as for flights with their partner airlines and Star Alliance members. SAA backs up its commitment to customer service by investing millions each year on in-flight entertainment. Passengers may choose from more than a dozen movie channels, video games, music and travel information.

Business and first-class passengers are pampered even more. Business class offers the best business flat bed seats in the industry, according to Skytrax. They can also enjoy the Boabab Lounge at Johannesburg, which offers workstations complete with computers, faxes and printers. SAAs Cyclad Premium Lounge in Johannesburg was voted the third best in the world in a Skytrax survey in 2002.

In the first-class cabins, SAA offers these features: 180-degree, lie flat bed, possibly the widest in the industry at 29 inches wide. Each seat has its own electronically controlled ottoman, and large, private television screens with audio-video on-demand.

Business class travelers find generously wide, fully adjustable seats with an adjustable headrest and pneumatic lumbar support. Large private television screens with audio-video-on -demand are standard here as well.

South African Airways travelers who fly economy have available to them private televisions including audio-visual-on-demand and they are treated to a choice of two savory meals which are enhanced with a selection of South African Wines.

With the largest maintenance facility in Africa at Johannesburg, safety is a priority for SAA. The airline handles its own maintenance while offering maintenance services to British Airways and Air France.