South Africa's beleaguered national airline has signed a cooperation agreement with its Kenyan counterpart, with the long-term aim to create a pan-African airline, it said Wednesday.

South African Airways (SAA) recently emerged from bankruptcy proceedings and flew its first plane since March 2020 last week.

"SAA is signing a memorandum of cooperation with Kenya Airways, a welcome and strategic partnership with a longer-term view to co-starting a pan-African airline group," its spokeswoman Vimla Maistry told AFP.

The once mighty South African Airways from business rescue in May, after slashing hundreds of jobs and slimming its fleet from 46 to to six planes
The once mighty South African Airways from business rescue in May, after slashing hundreds of jobs and slimming its fleet from 46 to to six planes AFP / Emmanuel Croset

She said the next step would be for both parties to "further discuss the memorandum", noting that they were still exploring possible collaboration at this stage.

Once Africa's second-largest airline after Ethiopian Airlines, SAA had survived for decades on government bailouts and was shedding routes even before the pandemic hit.

It emerged from business rescue in May, after slashing hundreds of jobs and slimming its fleet from 46 to six planes.

The airline has so far resumed domestic and regional services.