South African Airway’s Australian business has been recognised in the top three of the airline’s operations anywhere in the world, winning second place in “Commercial Station of the Year 2012” against stiff competition from 38 destinations served. 

SAA won second place in the hotly-contested competition with the winning entries announced at a ceremony in Johannesburg over the weekend.

According to SAA’s Country Head for Australasia, Tim Clyde-Smith, who flew to South Africa for the event, only SAA’s substantial South African operations beat out Australia.

“The fact that we grabbed the silver medal and beat bigger operations such as the USA (which came third), Europe and the UK and South America plus many African centres is a major achievement,” Tim said.

“This is obviously a big win for SAA in Australasia for the past year, which has not been without its challenges. We have had the patchy global travel situation to deal with as well as uncertainty over the future of our codeshare agreement with Qantas. But despite this we came through with flying colours, “Tim said.

 “Criteria for the win was substantial and included things like building market share, revenue growth and customer satisfaction to name a few’” he said.

“Also recognised was our fantastic staff both in Sydney and Perth as well as Auckland, and our ability to compete effectively against off-line and non-direct airlines.”

"The award truly reflects that SAA’s operations in Australasia are up there with the best in the world and mean that offering travel trade and customers the best travel choices to Africa and beyond are paying dividends for the Australasian business,” Tim concluded.

Note for editor: SAA has daily non-stop flights between Sydney and Perth to Johannesburg, with direct connections to the largest network in Africa. SAA is consistently voted the 'Best Airline & Cabin Crew in Africa' winning it for the 16th consecutive year in the Travel Weekly Globe Awards in London. SAA took out top honours at the recent WTA awards in London, with three awards in the Africa category. SAA is a member of STAR, the world’s largest alliance which offers more than 21,500 daily flights to 1,356 airports in 193 countries.