South African Airways (SA, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo) is planning to return 19 out of its 40 dry-leased aircraft and is renegotiating the terms of the leases on some of the units it wants to retain, a leaked draft business rescue plan shows.

According to the plan, the airline has suspended the leases and is in the process of negotiating the terms of the return of the following aircraft:

South African Airways has already agreed on the return of the following aircraft:

Also, the leases on two B737-300(F)s from GECAS expired, and the aircraft were returned. As such, South African Airways no longer operates any in-house freighter aircraft.

The bankrupt state-owned carrier has also negotiated a reduction in lease rates for its remaining dry-leased aircraft and said that the "amendment and finalisation of lease agreements [is] suspended, [pending] clarity on future of SAA". These aircraft are:

South African Airways' business rescue practitioners said that the retention of the carrier's newest aircraft, four A350-900s (two leased from Air Mauritius and two from Avolon via a sublease from Hainan Airlines) would be "dependant on the future route network of the airline".

SAA owns a further five A340-300s and four -600s, all of which are up for sale.