At a Glance
- SAA continues post-pandemic turnaround with global recognition
- Low-cost carriers lead African aviation rankings
- Regional rivals gain ground in cleanliness and staff excellence
South African Airways (SAA), the country’s flagship carrier, has climbed to 67th place in the 2025 top 100 Skytrax World Airline Awards, up from 69th in 2024.
This marks another key milestone in its multi-year recovery strategy following years of financial turbulence and pandemic-related disruptions.
The Skytrax rankings, based on one of the largest global passenger satisfaction surveys, evaluate over 325 airlines worldwide.
Unlike other awards, Skytrax’s top 100 list is driven purely by traveler reviews, making it a trusted benchmark for airline quality and customer experience.
SAA’s steady ascent is reflective of a broader transformation within the airline.
In November 2024, the carrier reported its first annual profit in over a decade — R252 million ($13.9 million) for the 2022/23 financial year — a significant turnaround from the R23.5 billion ($1.3 million) in combined losses recorded over the past four years; years of government bailouts and losses.
Now in a consolidation phase, SAA is focusing on securing core routes, modernizing its fleet, and enhancing customer service to restore its position as a competitive international player.
FlySafair and LIFT take top honours in low-cost segment
Beyond SAA, South Africa’s aviation landscape continues to gain international acclaim, particularly in the low-cost category.
FlySafair, which recently rolled out South Africa’s first AI-powered travel assistant, was crowned Africa’s Best Low-Cost Airline for 2025, reclaiming the top spot from LIFT, which held the title in 2024.
Zimbabwe-based Fastjet also earned praise as one of the top three low-cost carriers on the continent.
“This recognition from Skytrax validates over a decade of hard work,” said FlySafair Chief Marketing Officer Kirby Gordon.
“We’ve remained committed to delivering affordable, on-time, and hassle-free travel, and it’s rewarding to see those efforts acknowledged on a global scale.”
Airlink surpasses SAA in cleanliness and regional service
While SAA climbed the overall global ranks, it ceded its 2024 title for “Cleanest Airline in Africa” to Airlink.
The privately-owned regional airline also topped the charts as Africa’s best regional carrier in 2025, underscoring its rising reputation for operational excellence and service standards.
The cleanliness awards focus on cabin presentation, evaluating seat areas, tray tables, carpets, panels, and restrooms.
Meanwhile, in the “Best Airline Staff Service” category — which recognizes airport and in-flight service quality — EgyptAir, RwandAir, and Ethiopian Airlines led the continent, with SAA trailing in fourth, followed by Airlink, LIFT, and FlySafair.
Outlook
As South African airlines regain global recognition, SAA’s upward trajectory sends a clear signal that the country’s aviation sector is not only stabilizing — it’s preparing for takeoff. The spotlight is back on Africa’s skies, and South Africa is flying near the front of the pack.
