SAA conquers Africa

Fluglotse2000 · Post by **Fluglotse2000** » 04 Aug 2004, 13:43

Hi there,

I find it amazing how strong SAA has become in the last years. Not only do they operate a huge number of flights in Africa, no, they also own (partly) other airlines like Air Tanzania. With new partners on Central and East African routes in the past, SAA's network is quite big. If you think about the Apartheid times, when they weren't even allowed to fly over some countires...

Keep well,

Felix

Captain · Post by **Captain** » 04 Aug 2004, 15:09

Indeed, they have in the last couple of years invested a lot of money in modernizing their fleet and have become an increasingly big carrier within Africa.

I love their A360-400's.

Captain

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 04 Aug 2004, 21:09

They are indeed a great airline and I would love to fly them soon.

Captain wrote: I love their A360-400's.

That's an original aircraft name

Chris

Captain · Post by **Captain** » 04 Aug 2004, 21:54

Avro wrote: That's an original aircraft name Chris

Woops, I mean't A340-600

Just too quick on the keyboard

Captain

Fluglotse2000 · Post by **Fluglotse2000** » 05 Aug 2004, 09:15

It is really cool in the A340-600s. It is not only a long, long, long aircraft, it is also quite comfortable! And quiet!
They are maybe going to get the new A380, which would be great.

I think it is good to have a strong carrier down in Africa to boost the local aviation industry, but I hope that other airlines don't have to suffer because of that. The "black" business class airline Sunair went bancrupt recently and Interair, which operates a large network to Central Africa too, is struggling as well...

Anyway,
Keep well,

Felix

Post by **sn26567** » 05 Aug 2004, 11:02

Fluglotse2000 wrote:They are maybe going to get the new A380, which would be great.

I also think that the JNB-LHR traffic justifies such a plane. Who will be the first to order it: BA or SAA?

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 05 Aug 2004, 12:20

sn26567 wrote:
Fluglotse2000 wrote:They are maybe going to get the new A380, which would be great.
I also think that the JNB-LHR traffic justifies such a plane. Who will be the first to order it: BA or SAA?

And in the meantime the first pictureof the first A319 of SAA has been published: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/632571/L/

It seems that SAA is converting from Boeing to Airbus

Chris
8)

Fluglotse2000 · Post by **Fluglotse2000** » 05 Aug 2004, 21:45

Well, that is what actually happens. By 2008 all Boeing aircraft will be sold or out of service and SAA will be left with an all-Airbus fleet. First part of the renewal of the fleet was the purchase of A340-600s and -300Es and a few A330 and six A340-200 on leases.

Keep well,

Felix

MiStEr-T · Post by **MiStEr-T** » 11 Aug 2004, 17:01

2008 will be the end of the SAA new 737-800 ? ? ?

TBK :jump:

LX-LGX · Post by **LX-LGX** » 11 Aug 2004, 18:08

Sad story, those 737-800's. The first one (of 21) was delivered only 4 years ago, and they have to go.

The only one who was happy with that decision was Coleman Andrews, their CEO at that time. Only Andrews (and the American team he had brought with him) thaught that a 737-800 was the best plane for regular flights on medium haul. You don't have to be an expert that a B767 or a A300/310 is more suitable for that.

Anyway: he left the company a year later, after he has given himself a bonus totalling R99.8-million, a share payout of R58.6-million and a termination package of R73.8-million. Approved by the Ministry of Transport (Please note: he was CEO for just three years).

For those who have a calculator with them: the Rand (ZAR) was at 5,5 BEF at that time (R1 = 5,50 BEF). Yep, he could indeed buy an almost new 737-BBJ with the bonus he has given himself!

Seems for short haul, the 737-800 with winglets is more expensive on fuel then a 733 or 734. Is that correct ? ? SAA has a lot of short haul flights, like JNB-DUR (550 kms).

Fluglotse2000 · Post by **Fluglotse2000** » 13 Aug 2004, 10:35

Well, I don't know about that. But the newer B737-800s a remuch more comfortable. And the B737-200s they had were simply too old. SAA had to improve the quality of comfort on the flights to be superior to other airlines in Southern Africa taht often fly older B737-200 and 737-400s.

Keep well,

Felix

jimyvr · Post by **jimyvr** » 19 Aug 2004, 04:36

There has been rumour about SAA might order A318 before this christmas.

Fluglotse2000 · Post by **Fluglotse2000** » 22 Aug 2004, 15:25

Well, they already got the first A319. I think an A318 would fit very well on smaller routes, but on the other site such routes are normally served by SA Airlink or Express with Dash8, Embraer ERJ 135 , Canadair CRJ200 and Jetstream 41, so I think it is rather unlikely.

And the purchase of A318 is not planned in the SAA fleet-renewal plan. But I wouldn't be unhappy, if they bought any A318s.

Keep well,

Felix

IL62M · Post by **IL62M** » 24 Aug 2004, 22:08

I always liked South African a lot. Those 747 SP where always a great sight at the old Athens Airport.

B737229 · Post by **B737229** » 24 Aug 2004, 22:23

IL62M wrote:I always liked South African a lot. Those 747 SP where always a great sight at the old Athens Airport.

And in Brussels .. long time ago!

LX-LGX · Post by **LX-LGX** » 25 Aug 2004, 14:02

I don't think they've used B747-SP for BRU, but Super-B / 747-300

(route was JNB-ZRH-BRU-ZRH-JNB, later on JNB-FRA-BRU-FRA-JNB)

LX-LGX · Post by **LX-LGX** » 31 Aug 2004, 20:04

SAA is not doing as good as some may think: Transnet, their holding company, is not happy at all with their results, according to www.travelinfo.co.za (news from 30th August):

SOUTH African Airways (SAA) does not form part of the core businesses that Transnet sees as key to its future, ceo Maria Ramos, announced on Friday morning in Johannesburg. SAA has been one of the key factors for Transnet’s under-performance in which its loss increased from R421m last year to R6,3bn in the year ending March 2003. In the year SAA's turnover dropped by R1bn, to R16,3bn. Its loss increased from R6,2bn to R8,7bn.
Only the conversion of a R4bn loan from Transnet into equity on the last day of March prevented the airline from trading in insolvency when its net asset value was R2,5bn in the red. Analysts were told that a new era has started at Transnet and that under a significantly changed board, including a new chairman, there was a comprehensive plan to reverse Transnet’s fortunes. (end of quote from travelinfo.co.za)

previous bookyear's loss is R421m = 85 mio euro
last bookyear's loss = R16,3bn = 2.0375 mio euro

If you're flying SAA one of the forthcoming months, you don't have to panic: the company remains state owned, and a personal adviser and close friend from the president has just been appointed president of the board (not to be confused with CEO).

sab319 · Post by **sab319** » 31 Aug 2004, 20:45

let's hope SAA survives and acquires A380's wich they could fly into BRU...

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 31 Aug 2004, 20:58

Poor SAA...

I've read somewhere that SAA could abandon the order of A320 family aircrafts

sab319 wrote:let's hope SAA survives and acquires A380's wich they could fly into BRU...

keep dreaming my friend....

Chris

website-info · Post by **website-info** » 31 Aug 2004, 21:08

Hi Chris et All,

Indeed SAA have cancelled their A320 order, also the A319's future A340 will all now be leased instead of purchased. Also the 2 B744 that were reported last week as being sold to Cathay for Freighter conversion will now stay with SAA as they have figured it's cheaper to fly a plane you own outright rather than buy something new.

As for the A380, I'm told (by a friend

that they still have a requirement for 4-6, but alas, BRU does not figure in their plans, you can fly Star Alliance to FRA or LHR and then SAA from there.......

Rgds
Tony