JOHANNESBURG. 19 June 2019. South African Airways (SAA) has claimed the Skytrax award for Best Airline Staff Service in Africa for the seventh time, reaffirming its vision as the leading airline on the African continent.

SAA is an award-winning airline and is proud of the number of awards it wins annually.

In addition to the award as Best Airline Staff in Africa 2019, SAA also won awards for Best Cabin Crew in Africa 2019; Best Airline Cabin Cleanliness in Africa 2019, and Best Business Class Lounge in Africa 2019.

Ms Zuks Ramasia, SAA Acting CEO received the prestigious award at the 2019 World Airline Awards held at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, France.

“We are immensely proud to win – for the seventh time - the Best Airline Staff Service in Africa award at the annual World Airline Awards hosted by Skytrax, known as the Oscars of the aviation industry. This award is dedicated to all our diligent and passionate employees, especially our front-line staff, who make a tremendous difference to the travel experience of our customers,” said Ramasia.

The Best Airline Staff Service award recognises service excellence across the entire spectrum of front-line customer service touch points. The award covers South African Airways’ staff service for both airport and on-board experience. Customer satisfaction scoring evaluates all aspects of staff service efficiency, friendliness and service hospitality, staff language skills and overall quality consistency for the airline's staff.

Edward Plaisted of Skytrax said; “This is a major recognition for the thousands of South African Airways front-line staff who are responsible for serving customers, both in the airport and on-board environment. Achieving this top ranked consistency is not an easy task in the airline business, and it is a great accolade for South African Airways to have achieved this major recognition from customers.”

Star Alliance, an international airline network alliance of which SAA is a member airline, also claimed the Best Airline Alliance title at the Skytrax World Airline Awards, for the fourth year running. The Alliance’s prestigious Los Angeles Lounge retained the Best Airline Alliance Lounge Award for the fifth year in a row.

SAA is a 4-Star airline, and has maintained this ranking, in both Business and Economy Class for 17 consecutive years. Given that the highest rating that can be achieved is 5 Stars, this accolade demonstrates that the airline is maintaining its efforts to deliver excellent customer service and products.

The past weekend SAA was also named the Coolest Domestic Airline at the Sunday Times Gen Next Awards, which is the leading barometer of youth sentiment in South Africa. The airline’s in-flight magazine, Sawubona, in early June won the award for Africa’s Leading In-Flight Magazine at the World Travel Awards™ (WTA)for the fifth year in a row. 

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Issued by SAA Group Corporate Affairs

Awards SAA won in 2018

·         December 2018 - SAA recognized as “Best Airline in Africa” and “Best Business Class to Africa”: October 2018 - SAA’s inflight magazine Sawubona scoops an award for 4th consecutive year at World Travel Awards™

·         July 2018 Star Alliance again voted best alliance – 17 member carriers claim 49 awards.

·         July 2018 - SAA voted Best Airline Staff in Africa

·         April 2018 - SAA awarded 4-Star Skytrax ranking 16 times

About South African Airways:

South African Airways (SAA) is the leading carrier in Africa, serving 57 destinations, in partnership with SA Express, Airlink, and its low-cost carrier, Mango, within South Africa and across the continent, and nine intercontinental routes from its Johannesburg hub. It is a member of the largest international airline network, Star Alliance. SAA’s core business is the provision of passenger airline and cargo transport services together with related services, which are provided through SAA and its wholly owned subsidiaries: SAA Technical; Mango its low-cost carrier; and Air Chefs, the catering entity of SAA. SAA is the winner of the Best Airline Staff Serviceaward in the Africa category; this shows that our customer-facing employees are our true brand ambassadors who made a difference to millions of travelling customers. SAA is one of six airlines globally certified as IEnvA Stage 2, the highest and most comprehensive level in terms of environmental regulatory compliance and governance thereto.

For media information, please contact:

SAA Spokesperson
Mr Tlali Tlali 
Email: TlaliTlali@flysaa.com
Mobile: +27 (0)82 333-3880
Office: +27 (0)11 978-2298

Marketing Enquiries:

Head of Marketing

Mr Themba Khumalo

Office: +27 (0)11 978-5597

Mobile: +27 (0)81 555-2353

Email: ThembaKhumalo@flysaa.com

General Enquiries:

Switchboard: +27 (0)11 978-1000

Website: www.flysaa.com

Twitter (Primary): @flysaa - https://twitter.com/flysaa

Twitter (Customer Service): @flysaa_care - https://twitter.com/flysaa_care

Facebook: www.facebook.com/flysaa