Editing South African Airways (section)

===Formation and early years===
[[File:Junkers-f13.jpg|thumb|SAA started operations with a number of acquired [[Union Airways]] aircraft, including the [[Junkers F.13]], similar to the one pictured.]]
[[File:ILA 20000007.JPG|thumb|The Douglas DC-4 Skymaster was introduced in May 1946, on which SAA's first [[In-flight entertainment|in-flight films]] were shown. This aircraft, registration ZS-AUB, is in Berlin (May 2000).]]
[[File:Lockheed L-749A ZS-DBR SAA LAP 30.05.53 edited-2.jpg|thumb|right|SAA [[Lockheed Constellation]] arriving at [[London Heathrow Airport|Heathrow]] in 1953]]
[[File:Heathrow Airport in 1977.jpg|thumb|An SAA [[Boeing 707]] sits alongside a [[BOAC]] [[Vickers VC10]] at [[London Heathrow Airport]] (1977).|alt=A South African Airways Boeing 707 in former orange, blue and white livery in the background at London Heathrow Airport, parked next to a BOAC Vickers VC10.]]

South African Airways was formed on 1 February 1934 following the rebranding and acquisition of [[Union Airways]] by the [[Government of South Africa|South African government]]. Forty staff members, along with one [[de Havilland DH.60 Moth|de Havilland DH.60 Gypsy Moth]], one [[de Havilland Puss Moth|de Havilland DH.80A Puss Moth]], three [[Junkers F.13]]s and a leased Junkers F13 and [[Junkers A50]] were among the acquired aircraft.<ref name="SAAMS">{{cite web |title=South African Airways: A Brief History |url=http://www.saamuseum.co.za/saa-history.html |access-date=17 December 2010 |publisher=SAA Museum Society |archive-date=11 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011010453/https://www.saamuseum.co.za/saa-history.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Upon acquisition, the government changed the airline's name to ''South African Airways''.<ref name="SAA_History">{{cite web |title=Brief history |url=http://www.flysaa.com/Journeys/cms/ZA/footer |publisher=South African Airways}}{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> It then came under control of the South African Railways and Harbours Administration (now [[Transnet]]).<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=May |first=Daryl |date=28 April 1966 |title=SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1966/1966%20-%201219.html |magazine=[[Flight International]] |access-date=22 December 2010 |archive-date=3 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103102925/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1966/1966%20-%201219.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=SA_Goes_Ahead/> Charter operations started that year.<ref>{{cite web |title=History of Airlines: South African Airways |url=http://www.historycentral.com/aviation/airlines/SA.html |access-date=17 December 2010 |publisher=www.historycentral.com |archive-date=6 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306060100/http://www.historycentral.com/aviation/airlines/SA.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On 1 February the following year, the [[Common carrier|carrier]] acquired Suidwes Lugdiens / South West Airways (now [[Air Namibia]]),<ref name=SAAMS/> which had since 1932 been providing a weekly air-mail service between [[Windhoek]] and [[Kimberley, Northern Cape|Kimberley]].<ref name="SA_Goes_Ahead">{{Cite magazine |date=9 January 1936 |title=SOUTH AFRICA GOES AHEAD |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1936/1936%20-%200086.html |magazine=Flight International |access-date=29 December 2010 |archive-date=3 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103115734/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1936/1936%20-%200086.html |url-status=live }}</ref> During this time, SAA ordered three [[Junkers Ju 52|Junkers Ju 52/3m]] aircraft, which were delivered in October 1934 and entered service 10 days later.<ref name=SAAMS/> These aircraft were configured to carry 14 passengers, along with four crew. They enabled thrice-weekly Durban–[[Johannesburg]] services, with weekly services on the [[Durban]]–[[East London, Eastern Cape|East London]]–[[Port Elizabeth]]–George/[[Mossel Bay]]–[[Cape Town]] route.<ref name=SAAMS/> On 1 July 1935, SAA moved its operations to Rand Airport as it became increasingly obvious that Johannesburg would become the country's aviation hub, which coincided with the launching of Rand–Durban–East London–Port Elizabeth–Cape Town services.<ref name=SAAMS/> From July the following year a weekly Rand–Kimberley–[[Beaufort West]]–Cape Town service commenced; in April 1936, all Rand–Cape Town services were taken over from [[Imperial Airways]].<ref name=SAAMS/> A fourth Ju 52/3m soon joined the fleet.

Orders for a further ten Ju 52/3m aircraft, along with eighteen [[Junkers Ju 86]]s and seven [[Airspeed Envoy]]s (four for the airline and three for the [[South African Air Force]]) were placed.<ref name=SAAMS/> This raised the number of Ju 52s to fourteen, although three older models were sold when deliveries of the newer Ju 52s began.<ref name=SAAMS/> The airline experienced a rapid expansion during this time, but also suffered its first accident; one of the newly delivered Ju 52s crashed after takeoff from Rand Airport in July 1937, with one reported fatality.<ref name=SAAMS/> From 1 February 1934 until the start of World War II, SAA carried 118,822 passengers, 3,278 tonnes of airmail and 248 tonnes of cargo, which were served by 418 employees.<ref name=SAAMS/> On 24 May 1940, all operations were suspended.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=May |first=Daryl |date=28 April 1966 |title=SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1966/1966%20-%201219.html |magazine=Flight International |access-date=23 December 2010 |archive-date=3 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103102925/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1966/1966%20-%201219.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following World War II, frequencies were increased and more routes were opened, which necessitated the conversion of three [[South African Air Force]] Envoys to passenger layout.<ref name=SAAMS/> These aircraft would prove to be unsuitable for passenger and cargo services and were returned to the SAAF after the arrival of the Junkers Ju 86s. The main aircraft of SAA in the 1930s was the Junkers Ju 52. Other types used in the 1930s included eighteen Junkers Ju 86s, which served from 1937 onwards.

The slow growth continued during the 1940s, though the airline was effectively closed for the duration of [[World War II]]. In 1944, SAA began operating 28 [[Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar|Lockheed Lodestars]] to restart domestic services and by 1948 SAA operating nineteen examples. These were withdrawn in 1955.

On 10 November 1945, SAA achieved a longtime company goal by operating a route to Europe when an [[Avro York]] landed in [[Bournemouth]], England, after the long flight from [[Palmietfontein Airport]] near Johannesburg. These were replaced by the [[Douglas DC-4]] from 1946 onwards, which in turn was replaced by the [[Lockheed Constellation]] on international routes in 1950. Also of note in the postwar era was the DC-3 Dakota, of which eight served with SAA, the last example being withdrawn as late as 1970.<ref>{{cite web |title=Douglas DC-3 Dakota |url=http://www.saamuseum.co.za/our-aircraft/68-douglas-dc-3-dakota.html |access-date=2019-05-24 |website=www.saamuseum.co.za |archive-date=24 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524021700/http://www.saamuseum.co.za/our-aircraft/68-douglas-dc-3-dakota.html |url-status=live }}</ref>