A potential non-stop Johannesburg-Mumbai service remains one of the most discussed long-haul route opportunities amongst the SA travel trade. However, aviation experts have warned of a disconnect between demand and commercial viability.
Was the India route ever profitable?When SAA suspended its Mumbai service in 2015, the airline claimed it was due to poor performance and cash-flow pressures. However, evidence presented during the South African State Capture Enquiry in 2018 suggested that political interference, including allegations of preferential treatment for Gupta-linked Jet Airways, may have played a role in the decision.
Aviation consultant, Sean Mendis , speculates that the route was one of many international routes operated by SAA that was not viable due to the financial state of the airline at the time.
