South Africa’s cash-strapped national carrier, SAA, on Monday said it was not clear how many employees will lose their jobs as it is being turned around.

Tlali Tlali, SAA spokesperson, said the reduction of staff numbers at the carrier, which employs 11,462 people, would be a “consultative process.”

“In order to return the company to relative stability in the context of the 90 Day Action Plan, SAA has had to re-examine every aspect of the business,” Tlali said.

“This has already resulted in substantial savings and stronger governance. The reality, however, is that SAA’s staff headcount grew over the past few years beyond sustainable levels as losses continued to impair business stability,” he added.

The state-owned SAA was transferred to the Treasury from the Department of Public Enterprises in December last year.

This was shortly after Jeff Radebe, the Minister in the Presidency, had told the media that the country’s cabinet was worried sick about the performance of SAA.

Last month, it emerged at the annual general meeting that the carrier’s annual loss had doubled to R2.6 billion ($213.5 million).

Nico Bezuidenhout, SAA’s acting CEO, launched a “90-day action plan” in December last year. It comes to an end on March 31 this year.

In an effort to turn around the company, Bezuidenhout promised to save the airline R600 million a year by closing down the loss-making direct flights to Beijing and Mumbai.