Editing South African Airways (section)

===Restructuring and Star Alliance: 2006–2011===
[[File:South African Logo.svg|thumb|right|South African Airways logo used until 2019]]

The South African government's plans called for the separation of South African Airways and its parent company Transnet. The deadline was moved from 2005 to 31 March 2006.<ref>{{cite web |date=20 October 2005 |title=SAA-Transnet split awaits new laws |url=http://www.pprune.org/african-aviation/195071-saa-transnet-split-awaits-new-laws.html |access-date=29 December 2010 |publisher=PPrune.org |archive-date=18 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918202711/http://www.pprune.org/african-aviation/195071-saa-transnet-split-awaits-new-laws.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:south.african.b747-400.zs-sax.arp.jpg|thumb|A [[Boeing 747-400]] (ZS-SAX) at [[London Heathrow Airport]] in the old colour scheme. This type of aircraft was permanently retired in 2010.]]

SAA joined [[Star Alliance]] on 10 April 2006,<ref name="SA_Welcomes_SAA">{{Cite press release |title=First African airline to join an alliance |date=10 June 2006 |publisher=Star Alliance |url=http://www.staralliance.com/en/press/southafricajoins-prp/ |access-date=29 December 2010 |archive-date=25 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725124412/http://www.staralliance.com/en/press/southafricajoins-prp/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=11 April 2006 |title=South African Airways joins Star Alliance |publisher=AsiaTravelTips.com |url=http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news06/114-SouthAfrican.shtml |access-date=29 December 2010 |archive-date=5 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305042417/http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news06/114-SouthAfrican.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> becoming the first African airline to join Star Alliance.<ref>{{Cite news |title=SAA joins Star Alliance network |publisher=21 April 2006 |url=http://www.economist.com.na/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12899:saa-joins-star-alliance-network&catid=554:archives |access-date=29 December 2010 |archive-date=16 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716152016/http://www.economist.com.na/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12899:saa-joins-star-alliance-network&catid=554:archives |url-status=live }}</ref> To celebrate the occasion, and as a condition of entry, one Airbus A340-600 (registration ZS-SNC) and one Boeing 737-800 (registration ZS-SJV) were repainted in Star Alliance livery.<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 March 2006 |title=SAA changes livery for Star Alliance |publisher=IAfrica.com |url=http://travel.iafrica.com/flights/976529.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=29 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712235851/http://travel.iafrica.com/flights/976529.htm |archive-date=12 July 2011 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> South African Airways fulfilled 53 requirements during the accession process.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gearing for growth – Annual Report 2006 |url=https://www.flysaa.com/pv_obj_cache/pv_obj_id_1B8B0B83F5E36DB79084D75DCF8F38A0C9D61900/filename/SAA_annualreport2006_opt.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231232909/https://www.flysaa.com/pv_obj_cache/pv_obj_id_1B8B0B83F5E36DB79084D75DCF8F38A0C9D61900/filename/SAA_annualreport2006_opt.pdf |archive-date=31 December 2010 |access-date=1 January 2011 |publisher=South African Airways |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In May 2007, SAA launched an 18-month comprehensive restructuring programme<ref name="Restructuring_plan">{{Cite news |date=4 June 2007 |title=SAA to Embark on Airline Restructuring Plan |work=Reuters |location=Johannesburg |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKL0477830420070604 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201055058/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKL0477830420070604 |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 February 2013 |access-date=1 December 2010}}</ref> which aimed to make the airline profitable. According to then-CEO Khaya Ngqula, this came largely after "uncompetitive ownership and aircraft lease costs, excessive head count and fuel price volatility". The programme involved: the spin-off of businesses into seven subsidiaries,<ref name=Restructuring_plan/> thereby allowing SAA to concentrate on its core business of passenger and cargo transport; grounding SAA's Boeing 747-400 fleet;<ref name=Restructuring_plan/> rationalising international routes (Paris was dropped altogether); the axing of 30% of the airline's managers;<ref>{{Cite news |title=SAA to overhaul business model |publisher=Mmegi.bw |url=http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=31&aid=21&dir=2007/June/Wednesday6 |access-date=1 January 2011 |archive-date=29 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829015230/http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=31&aid=21&dir=2007/June/Wednesday6 |url-status=live }}</ref> among other reductions. This was expected to save the airline R2.7&nbsp;billion (US$378.2&nbsp;million).<ref name=Restructuring_plan/> By June 2009, R2.5&nbsp;billion had been saved.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 June 2009 |title=Restructuring saves SAA R2,5-billion |publisher=Mail&Guardian Online |url=http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-06-02-restructuring-saves-saa-r25billion |access-date=1 January 2011 |archive-date=16 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616080843/http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-06-02-restructuring-saves-saa-r25billion |url-status=live }}</ref>

Two retired 747-400s were reactivated in 2008 for flights to [[Lagos]], and by 2010 [[Luanda]] as well.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Sobie |first=Brendan |date=30 October 2008 |title=SAA reintroduces 747-400s |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/10/30/318179/saa-reintroduces-747-400s.html |magazine=Flight International |access-date=30 December 2010 |archive-date=19 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100919151913/http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/10/30/318179/saa-reintroduces-747-400s.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 20 June 2008, the [[Association of Tennis Professionals]] (ATP) agreed to extend South African Airways' [[Sponsor (commercial)|sponsorship]] of the organisation another 3 and a half years. This extension succeeded two years of co-operation that "have seen a successful partnership blossom between SAA and the ATP".<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 June 2008 |title=South African Airways Extends $20m ATP Sponsorship |publisher=Sportbusiness.com |url=http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/167030/south-african-airways-extends-20m-atp-sponsorship |url-status=dead |access-date=30 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310054631/http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/167030/south-african-airways-extends-20m-atp-sponsorship |archive-date=10 March 2012 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The deal was worth $20&nbsp;million, and ran until the end of 2012. On the same day it was announced that a new ATP World Tour tournament would be held in South Africa in 2009. In 2010, the company sought to recover $4&nbsp;million from then-CEO Khaya Ngqula, for allegedly spending the money on his friends and awarding business deals with organisations and individuals in which he had an interest. Among them are [[Association of Tennis Professionals|ATP]] and [[professional golfer]] [[Ángel Cabrera]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wild |first=Franz |date=21 July 2010 |title=South African Airways Seeks to Recover $4&nbsp;Million From Former CEO Ngqula |publisher=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-20/south-african-airways-seeks-to-recover-4-million-from-former-ceo-ngqula.html |access-date=30 December 2010 |archive-date=22 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722041010/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-20/south-african-airways-seeks-to-recover-4-million-from-former-ceo-ngqula.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In February 2010, the airline appointed Siza Mzimela as its first female CEO. She replaced Khaya Ngqula,<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 February 2010 |title=South African Airways appoints new CEO |publisher=Mail&Guardian Online |url=http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-02-24-south-african-airways-appoints-new-ceo |access-date=30 December 2010 |archive-date=27 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100227093315/http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-02-24-south-african-airways-appoints-new-ceo |url-status=live }}</ref> who was accused of mismanagement and therefore quit. Mzimela was previously CEO of SAA's domestic partner airline, [[South African Express]] (SA Express). On 1 April 2010 she took over the position from Chris Smyth,<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 February 2010 |title=South African Airways welcomes new CEO |publisher=eTravelBlackborad.com |url=http://www.etravelblackboard.com/showarticle.asp?id=102284&nav=28 |access-date=30 December 2010 |archive-date=8 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308025726/http://www.etravelblackboard.com/showarticle.asp?id=102284&nav=28 |url-status=live }}</ref> the acting CEO since Khaya Ngqula left in March 2009.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Baumann |first=Julius |date=11 March 2009 |title=A Chief Khaya Ngqula Quits Amid Probe |publisher=AllAfrica.com |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200903110018.html |access-date=30 December 2010 |archive-date=13 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090313074725/http://allafrica.com/stories/200903110018.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=24 February 2010 |title=SAfrica main airline appoints new chief executive |work=Reuters |url=http://in.reuters.com/article/idINLDE61N2JF20100224 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201050112/http://in.reuters.com/article/idINLDE61N2JF20100224 |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 February 2013 |access-date=30 December 2010}}</ref>

At the end of 2010, SAA permanently retired the two Boeing 747-400s which were temporarily re-introduced in late 2008.<ref name="747_phase_out">{{Cite magazine |last=Sobie |first=Brendan |date=20 May 2010 |title=SAA plans to finally phase out 747-400s at year-end |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/05/20/342229/saa-plans-to-finally-phase-out-747-400s-at-year-end.html |magazine=Flight International |access-date=30 December 2010 |archive-date=21 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221151144/https://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/05/20/342229/saa-plans-to-finally-phase-out-747-400s-at-year-end.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |year=2010 |title=SAA plans to finally phase out 747-400s at year-end |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/05/20/342229/saa-plans-to-finally-phase-out-747-400s-at-year-end.html |access-date=20 May 2010 |website=Flight International |archive-date=21 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221151144/https://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/05/20/342229/saa-plans-to-finally-phase-out-747-400s-at-year-end.html |url-status=live }}</ref> This was expected to save it $60&nbsp;million during the fiscal year ending March 2009. SAA leased two second hand [[Airbus A340-300]]s from Airbus Financial Services (AFS) to replace the 747s.{{Cn|date=September 2024}}