SAA leases to be signed by October

South African Airways will sign leases for 20-25 long-haul aircraft by October. SAA abandoned its previous plan for a widebody fleet renewal last year, after the South African government objected that the tender did not satisfy the requirements of the National Industrial Participation programme, which is a government-backed scheme that involves local businesses in state transactions. SAA CEO Monwabisi Kalawe stated that the tender has now been re-specified to the government’s satisfaction, and the renewal can proceed. Kalawe also said that the number of aircraft “would be anything between 20 and 25. Our ambition is for the first two or