South African Airways (SAA) has made Professor John M. Lamola its permanent Group Chief Executive Officer after helming the national carrier as interim CEO since 2022.
The Board announced the role and said Lamola’s appointment marks a turning point for the airline’s long-term financial health, ensuring it remains a viable regional, continental and global aviation operator.
Lamola has solid experience in the aviation industry, having built and managed a proprietary private equity investment portfolio that included holdings in aviation and internet technologies.
He was CEO at Denel Aviation between 1996 and 2001 and served on the Board of the Airports Company South Africa between 2012 and 2017.
Lamola is deeply familiar with the national carrier’s past and has been intimately involved in planning its future.
As interim CEO, he ensured its return to profit-making status with FY23 its first profitable year since 2012.
The airline has steadily added national, continental and global routes, flying to 16 destinations by January 2025 compared with six destinations in 2021, and expanded its fleet from six aircraft to 20 in the same period, including two Airbus A330s.
South African Airways has also upped its Perth-Johannesburg service to five weekly flights from January 2025.
The Board said Lamola has the skill, track record, leadership skills, insight and vision to guide the national carrier in its continued growth and his proven leadership will ensure stability and continuity in governance and operations.
SAA Board Interim Chairperson Derek Hanekom said: “The SAA Board is delighted to be able to appoint a solid and dedicated leader well versed in SAA’s fortunes and eager to continue overseeing its take-off into better skies. We wish Professor Lamola and SAA safe flight into an even brighter future.”
Find out more at flysaa.com
