**South African Airways Expands Fleet**
South African Airways (SAA) has welcomed an additional Airbus A330-300 aircraft to its fleet, registered as ZS-SXI. This brings the airline’s total number of active aircraft to six, comprising five Airbus A320s, one Airbus A340-300 and a leased Boeing 737-300. Two of their jets are presently undergoing maintenance.
**New Flights to Brazil**
The new Airbus A330-300 will be used to launch new flights from Cape Town to São Paulo on October 31st and from Johannesburg to São Paulo on November 6th. Flights will be operated twice weekly on both routes. The Airbus A330-300 is configured to accommodate up to 249 passengers across two classes: 46 seats in business class and 203 in economy class.
**Authorization to Operate Flights in Brazil**
SAA has also received authorization from the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) in Brazil to operate flights within the country. This means that SAA will be the sole carrier operating between Cape Town and São Paulo, a competitive advantage over the Johannesburg-OR Tambo route, which is served by LATAM with a Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
**Return to Intercontinental Flights**
The resumption of flights to São Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport signifies SAA’s return to intercontinental flights after a restructuring process that began in December 2019. SAA exited this restructuring process in May 2021 and has been gradually rebuilding its network.
**Overall, this is good news for South African Airways and its customers. The airline is expanding its fleet, launching new routes, and returning to intercontinental flights. This is a sign of recovery for SAA and the South African aviation industry as a whole.**