South Africa Airways eyeing commercial deals, not investment

South African Airways held talks with global carriers including Emirates about strengthening commercial relationships and taking on excess its cabin crew, though stopped short of asking for cash investments. The loss-making state airline has been on a roadshow to meet code share and other potential partners to discuss ways they could assist with its revival effort, SAA said Monday. SAA commented after Johannesburg-based newspaper City Press reported both Emirates and Etihad were in talks with SAA about a partnership, citing the UAE’s ambassador to South Africa. SAA is in the throes of a financial crisis that has led CEO Vuyani Jarana to call for an aviation-industry investor to help it return to profit and avoid further government bailouts. Gulf airlines have been mooted as candidates, given their routes linking major African cities with Middle Eastern hubs and other Asian and European destinations. Emirates and SAA are working closely to enhance their code-sharing agreement but there are no plans to invest, an Emirates spokesperson said Monday. Etihad declined to comment. SAA has met Emirates, Turkish Airways, Qatar Airways, Kenya Airways, Air Mauritius, Unite Airlines and Singapore Airlines, the company said.<br/>