South African Airways

The jet age arrived in South Africa on 3 May 1952 when a [[BOAC]] [[de Havilland Comet]] arrived in Palmietfontein after a 24-hour journey from England with five refuelling stops en route. SAA chartered two Comets from the British airline on 4 October 1953, when Comet G-ANAV left London for Johannesburg.<ref name=SAAMS/> On the same day, ''Tourist Class'' was introduced on the 58-seat Lockheed Constellation used on the Springbok Service. The two chartered aircraft sported both BOAC and SAA titles and logos, but were operated by SAA crews.

The jet age arrived in South Africa on 3 May 1952 when a [[BOAC]] [[de Havilland Comet]] arrived in Palmietfontein after a 24-hour journey from England with five refuelling stops en route. SAA chartered two Comets from the British airline on 4 October 1953, when Comet G-ANAV left London for Johannesburg.<ref name=SAAMS/> On the same day, ''Tourist Class'' was introduced on the 58-seat Lockheed Constellation used on the Springbok Service. The two chartered aircraft sported both BOAC and SAA titles and logos, but were operated by SAA crews.

In 1956 Suid-Afrikaanse Lugdiens introduced the [[Douglas DC-7]]B, capable of long-[[Range (aircraft)|range]] operations and then probably the fastest [[piston-engine]] airliner in the world. SAA exploited the aircraft's performance by introducing it between Johannesburg and London with only one fuelling stop at [[Khartoum]].<ref name=SAAMS/> This was known as the ''East Coast express'', taking 21 hours to complete,<ref name=SAAMS/> versus BOAC's inaugural Comet flight between the two cities of 24 hours. This later became the ''West Coast express'' when the [[wikt:technical stop|technical stop]] at Khartoum was transferred to [[Kano (city)|Kano]], Nigeria, resulting in a shortened flying of 18 hours.<ref>In January 1958 the weekly DC-7B took 20 hr 10 min Heathrow to Johannesburg including the one-hour Kano stop.</ref> The fortnightly [[Wallaby Route]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=South African Airways: Wings of the Rainbow Nation |url=https://www.key.aero/article/south-african-airways-wings-rainbow-nation |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=www.key.aero |date=23 January 2020 |language=en |archive-date=28 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428045033/https://www.key.aero/article/south-african-airways-wings-rainbow-nation |url-status=live }}</ref> routed [[Johannesburg]]–Mauritius–[[Cocos Islands]]–[[Perth]], Australia, started in November 1957.<ref name=SAAMS/>

In 1956, SAA introduced the [[Douglas DC-7]]B, capable of long-[[Range (aircraft)|range]] operations and then probably the fastest [[piston-engine]] airliner in the world. SAA exploited the aircraft's performance by introducing it between Johannesburg and London with only one fuelling stop at [[Khartoum]].<ref name=SAAMS/> This was known as the ''East Coast express'', taking 21 hours to complete,<ref name=SAAMS/> versus BOAC's inaugural Comet flight between the two cities of 24 hours. This later became the ''West Coast express'' when the [[wikt:technical stop|technical stop]] at Khartoum was transferred to [[Kano (city)|Kano]], Nigeria, resulting in a shortened flying of 18 hours.<ref>In January 1958 the weekly DC-7B took 20 hr 10 min Heathrow to Johannesburg including the one-hour Kano stop.</ref> The fortnightly [[Wallaby Route]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=South African Airways: Wings of the Rainbow Nation |url=https://www.key.aero/article/south-african-airways-wings-rainbow-nation |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=www.key.aero |date=23 January 2020 |language=en |archive-date=28 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428045033/https://www.key.aero/article/south-african-airways-wings-rainbow-nation |url-status=live }}</ref> routed [[Johannesburg]]–Mauritius–[[Cocos Islands]]–[[Perth]], Australia, started in November 1957.<ref name=SAAMS/>

After a host of accidents involving SAA's and other airlines' Comets, the airline ordered three [[Boeing 707|Boeing 707-320]] ''Intercontinentals'' on 21 February 1958, with the first delivered on 1 July 1960.<ref>{{cite web |title=707 Model Summary |url=http://active.boeing.com/commercial/orders/displaystandardreport.cfm?cboCurrentModel=707&optReportType=AllModels&cboAllModel=707&ViewReportF=View+Report |access-date=10 December 2010 |publisher=Boeing Commercial Airplanes |archive-date=4 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904102020/http://active.boeing.com/commercial/orders/displaystandardreport.cfm?cboCurrentModel=707&optReportType=AllModels&cboAllModel=707&ViewReportF=View+Report |url-status=dead }}</ref> Three months after arrival, on 1 October 1960, the Boeing 707 was deployed on the airline's flagship ''Springbok Service'', trimming the flying time to London to 13 hours.<ref name=SAAMS/> Other changes brought about by the 707 were a livery change, to an orange tail with blue and white markings,<ref name=SAAMS/> as well as improved comfort, range and speed. A 707 replaced the DC-7B on the Wallaby Route in 1967; Cocos Islands was dropped, while [[Sydney Airport|Sydney]] became the terminus. Flights to New York, via [[Rio de Janeiro]], started on 23 February 1969 using a 707.<ref name=SAAMS/> The first 707 of SAA landed in Europe in October 1961 with a nine-hour flight to [[Athens]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2017}}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.flightlineweekly.com/post/south-african-airways-history-of-the-flying-springbok | title=South African Airways – History of the Flying Springbok | date=24 November 2020 }}</ref>

After a host of accidents involving SAA's and other airlines' Comets, the airline ordered three [[Boeing 707|Boeing 707-320]] ''Intercontinentals'' on 21 February 1958, with the first delivered on 1 July 1960.<ref>{{cite web |title=707 Model Summary |url=http://active.boeing.com/commercial/orders/displaystandardreport.cfm?cboCurrentModel=707&optReportType=AllModels&cboAllModel=707&ViewReportF=View+Report |access-date=10 December 2010 |publisher=Boeing Commercial Airplanes |archive-date=4 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904102020/http://active.boeing.com/commercial/orders/displaystandardreport.cfm?cboCurrentModel=707&optReportType=AllModels&cboAllModel=707&ViewReportF=View+Report |url-status=dead }}</ref> Three months after arrival, on 1 October 1960, the Boeing 707 was deployed on the airline's flagship ''Springbok Service'', trimming the flying time to London to 13 hours.<ref name=SAAMS/> Other changes brought about by the 707 were a livery change, to an orange tail with blue and white markings,<ref name=SAAMS/> as well as improved comfort, range and speed. A 707 replaced the DC-7B on the Wallaby Route in 1967; Cocos Islands was dropped, while [[Sydney Airport|Sydney]] became the terminus. Flights to New York, via [[Rio de Janeiro]], started on 23 February 1969 using a 707.<ref name=SAAMS/> The first 707 of SAA landed in Europe in October 1961 with a nine-hour flight to [[Athens]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2017}}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.flightlineweekly.com/post/south-african-airways-history-of-the-flying-springbok | title=South African Airways – History of the Flying Springbok | date=24 November 2020 }}</ref>