

There were speculation that Qatar Airways may be engaged in negotiations to procure a share in South African Airways, following the withdrawal of Takatso, previously slated to acquire a majority stake in the airline.
However, in a recent address at an aviation summit in Johannesburg, SAA’s Interim CEO John Lamola said he is looking for a partner that will respect his airline’s mission.
South Africa's flag bearer — South African Airways (SAA) has dismissed rumours about entering into an equity partnership with Qatar Airways.
Speculation began after Qatar Airways announced earlier this month its intention to invest in an airline located in the southern region of Africa.
Also, on May 21, Qatari Minister of Transport Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti met with South African Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan. During the meeting, they reviewed aspects of cooperation between the two countries in the fields of transportation and transport services, civil aviation, and ports and discussed ways to develop and enhance them.
Once the leading airlines in the African continent, South African Airways (SAA) has been in bad shape owing to the financial and operational challenges for years and entered business restructuring in 2019 following all international routes closure at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Worth noting, in June 2021, the South African government relinquished its controlling stake in the airline followed by negotiations with Takatso Consortium to hold a 51% controlling stake in the airline.
However, In March this year, South African Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan revealed the calling off of the Privatization of the South African Airways, which was planned to happen with the Takatso consortium.
Speculations intensified further when Qatar Airways Group CEO Badr Al Meer revealed on May 15 that the Gulf carrier is “in the final stages” of finalising an equity investment in an airline in “the southern part of Africa,” with an announcement expected to take place within two or three weeks of the time of his announcement.
“This airline will help us and complement the operation of Kigali,” Al Meer told a panel at the Qatar Economic Forum at the time.
However, in a recent address at an aviation summit in Johannesburg on May 22, SAA’s Interim CEO John Lamola dismissed these speculations.
“We are South Africa’s national carrier… and we’re looking for a partner that will respect the mission of SAA,” Lamola stated
Lamola further emphasised that SAA is indeed on the lookout for a strategic partner following the collapse of its private equity deal with the Takatso Consortium.
The key requirement for any prospective partner, he noted, is a commitment to keeping SAA state-owned and dedicated to serving South Africa.
The airline’s board is also insisting on a capital injection to aid in the recapitalisation and modernisation of its fleet, aligning with global decarbonisation standards.
In addition to modernising its fleet, Lamola underscored that the airline continued to be a training ground for the development of skills within the country’s aviation sector. He also emphasised that SAA was committed to providing opportunities for previously marginalised groups such as women.
As part of what Lamola refers to as its ‘post-Takatso strategy’, he said SAA was engaging in discussions with various government bodies, such as the Department of Transport, on how it could grow without jeopardising the stability of the airline industry.
Meanwhile, the ambitious Qatar Airways, which currently operates flights to 31 African destinations, is keen on expanding its footprint on the continent.
This includes a significant equity investment in another southern African airline, complementing its existing operations with RwandAir and enhancing connectivity across East, West, and North Africa.
Qatar Airways has been increasing its presence in Africa since 2019 when it expressed interest in acquiring a 49 percent stake in RwandAir.
For Qatar, this long-term investment is part of a broader plan, which includes a $1.3bn investment in Rwanda’s new Bugesera International Airport, aimed at developing a major aviation hub in the region.
Assuring the financial health of SAA, the CEO was positive of enough cash in its coffers to remain viable, Lamola said it was blessed with “a very strong balance sheet”.
“We have a debt-free balance sheet.”
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