South African Express Airways SOC Ltd, known as South African Express or simply SA Express, was a state-owned airline based in South Africa that started operations on 24 April 1994, but had to cease operations on 28 April 2020. Although the airline was operationally independent of South African Airways, its flights were incorporated within the strategic alliance with South African Airways. The airline had its head office at Airways Park, Jones Road, next to O.R. Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng.
History
thumb|A former SA Express [[Bombardier Dash 8|Bombardier Dash 8-Q300 in old colors]]
On 24 May 2018 the South African Civil Aviation Authority grounded the airline due to "serious safety risks". They reported it could be months before the airline was operational again. Flights resumed on 23 August, following the issuance of airworthiness certificates for a portion of the airline's fleet.
On 13 February 2020, South African Express entered the Business Rescue process, a local form of bankruptcy protection. On 18 March 2020, the airline suspended all operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On 28 April 2020, the business rescue practitioners submitted an application to the Pretoria High Court for the liquidation of the airline. The court approved a provisional liquidation, with stakeholders being given until 9 June 2020 to voice objections before a final dissolution of the company.
In November 2020, the moveable assets of the company such as the eight Bombardiers, spare parts and furniture were to be sold via an online auction managed by GoIndustry DoveBid Africa. The non-moveable assets such as the routes, landing rights and existing licences would be sold to FlySax, a consortium consisting of a key investor and ex-SA Express staff.
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<small>Notes: Profitability figures for 2008/09 are not shown above(*), as they are believed to have been restated since the publication of the Annual Report. All flights had been suspended by 18 April 2020.
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- Gaborone – Sir Seretse Khama International Airport
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- Lubumbashi – Lubumbashi International Airport
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- Walvis Bay – Walvis Bay International Airport
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- Bloemfontein – Bram Fischer International Airport
- Cape Town – Cape Town International Airport
- Durban – King Shaka International Airport
- Hoedspruit – Eastgate Airport
- Johannesburg – O.R. Tambo International Airport Hub
- Kimberley – Kimberley Airport
- Port Elizabeth - Port Elizabeth International Airport
Fleet
thumb|SA Express [[Bombardier CRJ100/200#CRJ-200|Bombardier CRJ200]]
thumb|SA Express [[De Havilland Canada Dash 8#Series 400|Bombardier Q400]]
Current fleet
The South African Express fleet consisted of the following aircraft :
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! Aircraft
! In service
! Orders
! Passengers