South African Airways (SAA) is the flag carrier of South Africa. Founded in 1934, the airline is headquartered in Airways Park at O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and operates a hub-and-spoke network, serving ten destinations in Africa. The carrier joined Star Alliance in April 2006, making it the first African carrier to sign with one of the three major airline alliances.
SAA started operations with a number of acquired Union Airways aircraft, including the Junkers F.13, similar to the one pictured.
The Douglas DC-4 Skymaster was introduced in May 1946, on which SAA's first in-flight films were shown. This aircraft, registration ZS-AUB, is in Berlin (May 2000).
SAA Lockheed Constellation arriving at Heathrow in 1953.
An SAA Boeing 707 sits alongside a BOAC Vickers VC10 at London Heathrow Airport (1977).
O. R. Tambo International Airport
O. R. Tambo International Airport is an international airport serving the twin cities of Johannesburg and the main capital of South Africa, Pretoria. It is situated in Kempton Park, Gauteng. It serves as the primary airport for domestic and international travel for South Africa and since 2020, it is Africa's second busiest airport, with a capacity to handle up to 28 million passengers annually. The airport serves as the hub for South African Airways. The airport handled over 21 million passengers in 2017.
O.R. Tambo International Airport in Gauteng, South Africa
A now removed O.R Tambo bust at the aircraft viewing deck above the CTB.
Inside the O. R. Tambo International Airport.
OR Tambo terminal buildings