There will be no more direct flights by South African Airways (SAA) to China starting in May. The struggling airline can no longer afford to do the long route, Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene said. “According to the minister, the move is part of a strategy to turn around the finances of SAA and part of the cost-saving measures that include cancelling loss making routes — with China being one of them,” reports Star Africa.

SAA is operating loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization narrowed to $37.4 million for the year from $42.5 million reported 12 months earlier.

“Indeed, we have approved the cancellation of the China route as government because we have a certain obligation. Part of the implementation of the strategy was the closure of loss making routes,” Nene said.