Boeing 747-400 (ZS-SAY)
South Aftrican Airways began in 1934 as a state airline flying Junkers 13s (the F13 was a German-built single-engine aircraft) to which were added Junkers JU-52 three-engine passenger planes and JU86s. After the war SAA used DC4s and Constellations (from 1950) for the European services, with 1958 seeing a fleet of Vickers Viking aircraft although these were not keep long, going to BEA and being replaced with Viscounts. DC7s were also introduced from 1956. The Jet Age began for SAA with the introduction in 1960 of three Boeing 707-320s, taking over from the Constellations. More 707s came later as the mainstay of the international fleet type until the introduction of wide-body equipment. Boeing 727-100s were introduced in 1965 to replace the aging DC4s with Boeing 737-200s being used from 1968. Boeing 747-200s were introduced to replace the 707s from 1971. During the 1970s the airline introduced Boeing 747-SPs and Airbus A300s and the early 1980s saw a re-equipping of the 747 with the -300 model. In the 1990s Airbus A320s were introduced.
Boeing 747-200 (ZS-SAP)
South African Express: fly commuter and feeder routes within South Africa using Canadair Regional Jets and Dash-8 turboprops.
Boeing 747-300 (ZS-SAJ)
Liveries: During the 1950s SAA's livery was in modest dark blue but with the introduction of the Boeing 707 the livery changed to the 1960's 'orange tail' livery. In 1976 a new 'SAL' titles livery replaced the 'SAA' titles scheme although the right-side fusalage titles "SUID AFRIKAANSE LIGDEINS' remained in very small lettering. In the late 1990s with the end of formalised racial discrimination in South Africa a new flag and airline livery was introduced.
