South African Airways Secures Peak Season Capacity with Turkish SunExpress Lease

In an endeavour to ensure peak summer service efficiency, South African Airways (SAA) has entered into a “damp lease” agreement with the Turkish airline SunExpress. This strategic lease agreement comes just in time for the busiest travel season of the year and ensures that SAA is prepared to accommodate increased passenger demand.

SunExpress, a joint venture between aviation giants Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines, will provide SAA with two of their B737-800 aircraft for a period of six months, commencing mid-October. The arrival of the first aircraft last week signalled the first step in this mutually beneficial partnership.

This "damp lease" agreement signifies that along with the aircraft, SunExpress will also provide crew and maintenance services, leaving SAA to focus on ground-handling operations. By outsourcing the operation of these flights, SAA can maintain consistent service levels during the peak summer period.

SAA's partnership with SunExpress not only strengthens its operational capacity but also contributes to the airline's broader recovery roadmap. As we embark on the summer travel season, this lease agreement ensures that SAA continues to deliver efficient, reliable services to its customers while gradually expanding its footprints in the aviation industry post-pandemic.