South Africa Airways Operations Update

[nomspc]

Not good...

South African Airways Operations Update​

South African Airways (SAA) advises all customers that the global lockdown as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and our suspension of services has given us the opportunity to concentrate on moving forward our much publicised business rescue process. Amongst other benefits this process aims to produce a right sized, customer centric airline; designed to be lean, technology savvy, digitally native and agile to service all market segments. Whilst the SAA Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs) are working with the shareholder, the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) and the interim Board of Directors on the future shape and form of the airline we regret that a temporary suspension of all operations is necessary.
As the world continues to role out vaccines and study its efficacy amidst a mutating virus, economic activity needs to be resumed. Like many countries, South Africa continues to review restrictions on regular intervals. #SouthAfricaisTravelReady
Trans-national commercial air travel is however conditional as many countries battle with fluctuating rates of infection and/or new waves of infection. For now this has necessitated that all SAA operated flights (domestic and regional) are suspended until 30 April 2021 and all SAA operated international flights are suspended until 30 October 2021.
Although South Africa is travel ready, demand for domestic air travel has been significantly reduced, therefore to avoid over-capacity and to ensure commercial viability SAA has taken the decision to only operate our marketing (SA) flight numbers. We are delighted that the South African Airways code (SA) is available for booking on the domestic route network as our subsidiary low cost carrier Mango continues to operate.
The temporary suspension of operations also means that we would not be reachable to provide support through voice or email channels. You may however continue transacting on our website or contact your nearest travel agent.
SAA apologies for the inconvenience caused as a result of the suspension of its operations.

 

[VertigoBE]

Not good...

South African Airways Operations Update​

South African Airways (SAA) advises all customers that the global lockdown as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and our suspension of services has given us the opportunity to concentrate on moving forward our much publicised business rescue process. Amongst other benefits this process aims to produce a right sized, customer centric airline; designed to be lean, technology savvy, digitally native and agile to service all market segments. Whilst the SAA Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs) are working with the shareholder, the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) and the interim Board of Directors on the future shape and form of the airline we regret that a temporary suspension of all operations is necessary.
As the world continues to role out vaccines and study its efficacy amidst a mutating virus, economic activity needs to be resumed. Like many countries, South Africa continues to review restrictions on regular intervals. #SouthAfricaisTravelReady
Trans-national commercial air travel is however conditional as many countries battle with fluctuating rates of infection and/or new waves of infection. For now this has necessitated that all SAA operated flights (domestic and regional) are suspended until 30 April 2021 and all SAA operated international flights are suspended until 30 October 2021.
Although South Africa is travel ready, demand for domestic air travel has been significantly reduced, therefore to avoid over-capacity and to ensure commercial viability SAA has taken the decision to only operate our marketing (SA) flight numbers. We are delighted that the South African Airways code (SA) is available for booking on the domestic route network as our subsidiary low cost carrier Mango continues to operate.
The temporary suspension of operations also means that we would not be reachable to provide support through voice or email channels. You may however continue transacting on our website or contact your nearest travel agent.
SAA apologies for the inconvenience caused as a result of the suspension of its operations.

Crap this is no good, hopefully the other airlines do not follow this example and they continue flights to SA...

 

[flatwater bill]

South African Air ......suspends operations but "aims to be lean and technology savvy".....when it re-opens. Not what one automatically thinks of when musing about SAA. Not even close. It also aims to be "digitally native"....now THAT I can believe. Anyway, this is bad news for the hunting industry. Best of luck to my South African friends...................FWB

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Anyway, this is bad news for the hunting industry. Best of luck to my South African friends...................FWB

Why? I don't see it affecting the hunting industry at all. Barring the JHB-NY leg, all of their domestic routes has already been filled by the likes of privately owned airlines such as Airlink and Safair.
There are talks of SA Express also going private.

 

[flatwater bill]

Our local hunting club has had 7 members cancel their hunts because of uncertainty in the airline industry. Having an airline suspend ops, and others having to pick up the routes (or maybe not) has been one of their main worries. But happy to hear that all is well there..................FWB

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Our local hunting club has had 7 members cancel their hunts because of uncertainty in the airline industry. Having an airline suspend ops, and others having to pick up the routes (or maybe not) has been one of their main worries. But happy to hear that all is well there..................FWB

I hear what you are saying Bill, but how many of those guys were booked on SAA? SAA has been out of the picture for more than a year now, so this news does not affect current events.
SAA's plan forward is simple. They cannot have 100% overheads, be in the position that they are currently in, and run at 50% capacity. My opinion is that they have little to no overheads at the moment, and decided to keep it that way until such a time where they can operate at closer to full capacity.

 

[spike.t]

Not exactly news...they haven't been operating for a long time...they are talking to people to invest/partner with saa...Ethiopian was interested quite a while ago...but their head just stated that although they had been in talks for basically a ludicrously long time zero progress had been made...they have got rid of most of their planes...so that will also be a problem if they miraculously manage to start operating again....but as has been said other companies have taken over their routes internally and regionally...and still other international airlines flying in...

 

[Hoas]

Airlines still flying to South Africa :

Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss International Airlines, Air France, Egyptair, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways and Rwandair continue to operate flights to and from South Africa.

 

[flatwater bill]

None of the cancellations were booked SAA. (Had United tickets cancelled) But some of them were ready to get back in the game, until this happened. SAA suspending ops.....now there is one less choice. One with name recognition. Out of play. That will hurt sales. People that I know see it as one more airline failure in what might become a domino.....and they're not buying.tickets....in droves. No one has ever heard of Mango Air, and the like. Like I said, this will go one of two ways....it will help South African hunting. Or it will hurt South African hunting. I stand by my statement that it will hurt the industry. Hope I am wrong. Clients see SAA interruption as covid related. It makes them nervous. I commend KMG on doing well, and hope your optimism for the rest of South Africa is validated. Perhaps my worry was premature and illfounded. ..................but I think not....FWB

 

[Areaonereal]

If the SA regional airlines still flying out of JNB that Do Not allow firearms are just another reason to limit hunters to SA and or charging ridiculous fees for transport and scheduling on the main Connecting airlines back to the States. Qatar to Jnb then connnecting Airlink to and from WDH...ugh.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

If the SA regional airlines still flying out of JNB that Do Not allow firearms are just another reason to limit hunters to SA and or charging ridiculous fees for transport and scheduling on the main Connecting airlines back to the States. Qatar to Jnb then connnecting Airlink to and from WDH...ugh.

Safair now also carries firearms within South Africa.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Safair now also carries firearms within South Africa.

Had a ticket on Safair in 2020 from JNB to Port Elizabeth and they were carrying firearms. SAA was bust and no firearms on Mango.

 

[johnnyblues]

What a mess.. I’m supposed to be in SA next year, not quite sure what I will do anymore.

 

[Areaonereal]

Thanks for the update on Safair and firearms.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

What a mess.. I’m supposed to be in SA next year, not quite sure what I will do anymore.

Why? We are better off now than what we were last year. We have more airlines now flying with firearms domestically and there are endless options on international flights. United also have the option direct from Newark to JHB.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Had a ticket on Safair in 2020 from JNB to Port Elizabeth and they were carrying firearms. SAA was bust and no firearms on Mango.

Are you sure? As far as I know, Safair only started flying with firearms from this year.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Are you sure? As far as I know, Safair only started flying with firearms from this year.

I double checked. My flight was on SAA Express, not Safair. They were the substitute for this year.

United has cancelled EWR to JNB flights until June 3, 2021.

From what I've researched, QATAR is now the only game in town for U.S. travelers and that's with a stop in Doha.

 

[PARA45]

I'm heading to SA next year and I hope this will be a thing of the past.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

I double checked. My flight was on SAA Express, not Safair. They were the substitute for this year.

United has cancelled EWR to JNB flights until June 3, 2021.

From what I've researched, QATAR is now the only game in town for U.S. travelers and that's with a stop in Doha.

The good news is that SA Express is in the process of being bought out from the state by a private owner. If they can succeed in that, it will be another option carrying firearms within the country, but just like the other two mentioned, have the benefit of being privately owned.

Correct on United. That is probably the service that I will start to use personally when coming over to the USA during show season.

Also, as you mentioned Qatar, that is my recommendation currently. They flew to South Africa during the worst of it, so there is a reason that they are probably the most stable option from the USA to here at moment. That would be my choice for peace of mind currently.

 

[spike.t]

Qatar Airways expands further into South Africa

Middle-Eastern airline Qatar Airways has announced plans to expand its flight operations in South Africa.

businesstech.co.za