SAA says not in merger talks with Air China, Hainan Airlines
Johannesburg - State-run airline South African Airways (SAA) on Thursday denied it was in talks to sell itself to an airline, despite a report that said it was in discussions with Air China Ltd and HNA Group's Hainan Airlines Co to set up a West Africa-based hub or even sell a stake in the company.
Bloomberg reported the news Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.
In reply to a query by Reuters, a SAA spokesperson denied that the company is in talks to sell itself to any other airline.
Instead, further to a recent agreement between Air China and SAA, the talks would lead to Air China commencing “operations between Beijing and Johannesburg on which SAA will codeshare,” the SAA spokesperson said.
Reuters