On 5 December 2019, the Government of South Africa announced that SAA would enter into bankruptcy protection, as the airline has not turned a profit since 2011 and ran out of money.
In April, following a request for further emergency financing due the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic, the South African government announced it would stop funding the airline with immediate effect.
In February 2020, the airline introduced its first of four newly leased Airbus A350-900s in an attempt to modernize its loss-making long-haul fleet.

Ich malowanie statecznika pionowego było moim ulubionym... to takie smutne, że więcej go nie zobaczę na przesiadkach w Niemczech... oni wprowadzali taki charakterystyczny powiew egzotycznych spalin po wylądowaniu... czuło się wielki świat.

konkurencja tanich linii na lokalnym rynku byla mocna..