South Africa’s national carrier, South African Airways, is constantly looking at new routes and partners and is extending its wings to cover the African sky, says Public Enterprises Minister Jeff Radebe.
In reply to a question in Parliament from Inkatha Freedom Party MP Maxwell Sibiya, who asked whether SAA was starting new and additional destinations, Radebe said the airline had two departments devoted “to new business and forming new partnerships” with other airlines.
“They are the strategy and planning as well as alliances and aero-political affairs (departments),” said Radebe.
He noted that in January SAA introduced the Johannesburg-Dakar-New York route twice a week — as SA 203 — on Tuesday and Sundays from Johannesburg while SA 204 returns from John F Kennedy on Mondays and Wednesdays.
“Through the creation of the route, SAA once again demonstrates its support for the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad) and dedication towards the development tourism on the continent,” said Radebe.
In addition SAA also operated flights to JFK via Ilha do Sal on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. He noted that in October last year SAA introduced a new service between Johannesburg and Addis Ababa.
SAA flew to more than 20 destinations within Africa with the help of SA Airlink and SA Express, Radebe noted. “This is more than any other national carrier,” he added.
Radebe noted that SAA had acquired a 49% stake in Air Tanzania and a new company Air Tanzania Company Limited had been formed with the government of that country holding the remaining 51%.
“Of the $20-million transaction, $10-million will go into the 49% share holding stake and the remaining $10-million towards the capital and training account for the capitalisation of ATCL,” said Radebe.
Asked if there were any advantages in changing the SAA fleet from Boeing to Airbus, he said it was a more modern fleet which was cost-effective and fuel efficient and the current fleet is aging.
“It also gives SAA 10% more seat capacity which will assist in stimulating tourism,” he said. – I-Net Bridge