South African Airways (SAA) is South Africa's leading airline in both size and technical sophistication. The firm continues to receive prizes for being the best airline of the continent. The organization exists for 71 year and that makes it one of the first national airlines in the world. The airline has offices in Kaapstad and Johannesburg and is also known as Suid-Afrikaanse Lugdiens (SAL) (South African Air Service). Nowadays, the name isn't used anymore.

The concern was founded in 1934, after the company was bought by the South-African government. Union Airways continued business with the name South African Airways. After one year that airline was bought by South West African Airways as well. That company was responsible for the weekly airmail between the cities Kimberley and Windhoek.

South African Airways is owned by Transnet, the transportation institute of the South African government. The enterprise employs about 11.000 people and flies over 7 million people to their destinations each year. The 35 destinations that welcome planes of SAA on a regular basis are situated in 26 countries. According to Skytrax, a British company which is an expert at ranking airlines, South African is part of the top-ten concerning service.

In 1997, South African Airways introduced their new logo. The old one, a he-goat, was replaced by a new one, based on the national flag. The sun has been used as well. Since that moment, the South African name (Suid-Afrikaanse Lugdiens (SAL)) wasn't used anymore. The company started to sell tickets via the internet and formed a bond with SA Airlink and SA Express.

South African Airways' fleet consists of 58 planes, including the new Airbus A340-600, Airbus A330-300 E and Airbus A319. That way, the fleet is gradually renewed. The airline has the largest technical department and takes care of plane-maintenance of 40 other big airlines.