South African Airways 'near bankruptcy'

[Denali]

In my experience, the QF flight is either on time or massively late, rarely anything in the middle!

There will be numerous connections to CPT (oddly split between SAA and Comair), but a separate ticket is always a risk.

Just checked, I have CPT to Durban to JNB flights booked with Conair

 

[p--and--t]

Just checked, I have CPT to Durban to JNB flights booked with Conair

I hope its not Conair

 

[docjames]

Sounds like it would be the equivalent of QF maintaining SYD-MEL and pushing all other routes to Jetstar.

They need to do something drastic as they have been losing money hand over fist. The long term management issues (read: corruption) are well documented, this may be a way to try and break the cycle.

Presumably they can still command a fare premium / J class demand on JNB-CPT and/or the politicians have demanded it be retained.

Do SA inter line to Mango? I assume so, otherwise their long haul will suffer.

Good that PER is maintained to keep QF somewhat competitive on SYD-JNB....

 

[ausfox]

I have booked SA in May and July. JNB VFA on SA and BBK JNB on SA/Airlink. What chance they will fly?

 

[Cossie]

I ended up booking Johburg to Nairobi return on Kenya Airways in July, didn't want to take the risk with SAA. Still a few more flights to sort.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Just checked, I have CPT to Durban to JNB flights booked with Conair

Comair? It is the one that handles BAs flights. We always fly them in preference to SAA. Their planes are often quite old, but lounges are way better and I prefer the service.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I ended up booking Johburg to Nairobi return on Kenya Airways in July, didn't want to take the risk with SAA. Still a few more flights to sort.

We have flown Kenyan to Nairobi and I actually prefer them to SAA, although the planes tend to be older. They can be a bit casual about things as well (schedules etc), but not as bad as SAA. I quite liked the look of Rwandan Air when we saw the planes in Kigali.

 

[Denali]

Think we're flying Kenyan from Vic Falls to Cape Town.

At this stage Im pretty ho hum about this trip - no where near into planning other than booked some flights, booked some lodges but nothing else. Need to pull my finger out.

Hubby doesnt want to hire a car and drive to Gansbaai for a couple of nights, I think all the stories about how dangerous SA is got to him.

I have booked SA in May and July. JNB VFA on SA and BBK JNB on SA/Airlink. What chance they will fly?

I was told, "SA Airlink was a subsidiary of SAA but have recently become an independent carrier, so this decision won’t affect any of your flights. " so for now Im not stressing

 

[Flying mermaid]

Hubby doesnt want to hire a car and drive to Gansbaai for a couple of nights, I think all the stories about how dangerous SA is got to him.

The Cape is pretty safe - just don’t drive late at night and you will be fine. Drive with doors locked and don’t stop for any reason. We have driven in the Cape and Natal. I avoid the area around Johannesburg - in fact I just avoid Johannesburg apart from staying at the Intercontinental at the airport

 

[Denali]

The Cape is pretty safe - just don’t drive late at night and you will be fine. Drive with doors locked and don’t stop for any reason. We have driven in the Cape and Natal. I avoid the area around Johannesburg - in fact I just avoid Johannesburg apart from staying at the Intercontinental at the airport

Yeah, we've got one night at the Airport Intercontinental (we arrive about 9pm) and then 4 nights on the way back (at different hotel) but thats my "down time" after travelling for a couple of weeks and we'll only go out with a driver & guide. Otherwise its rest and massages

 

[Flying mermaid]

Yeah, we've got one night at the Airport Intercontinental (we arrive about 9pm) and then 4 nights on the way back (at different hotel) but thats my "down time" after travelling for a couple of weeks and we'll only go out with a driver & guide. Otherwise its rest and massages

I lived in Joburg for 7 years - that’s enough. It’s fine as long as you are very cautious. Driver and guide is fine. The people are still lovely - they are preyed on by the thugs as much (if not more), than the tourists, so don’t feel that everyone is dangerous. The criminal element just spoil it for everyone

 

[mbeder]

I flew JHB-CT late Jan after arriving on QF63 (on time) and it was a full flight. Return CPT-JHB was on a brand new A350 (very impressive plane) last week to connect to QF64. This 2pm flight was very empty, however the crew were very attentive and friendly. Interestingly, the Captain's welcome message included a solemn thank you for flying with them, which we commented on at the time.
OOI, this route is one of the busiest internationally (Top 25 with 4.5Mill pax in 2018 - Thanks Wikipedia). In comparison, SYD-MELB is 3rd with more than double those passenger numbers.

 

[docjames]

Some analysis from The Cranky Flier

South African’s Flight Cuts Aren’t as Ambitious as They Sound – Cranky Flier

 

[travelislife]

What are they doing with all the planes once they cut these routes?

 

[Mattg]

What are they doing with all the planes once they cut these routes?

I believe they are trying to sell the A340s. (Not sure if they have any buyers, and not sure about the spare A320s etc.)

 

[ALH]

I flew JHB-CT late Jan after arriving on QF63 (on time) and it was a full flight. Return CPT-JHB was on a brand new A350 (very impressive plane) last week to connect to QF64. This 2pm flight was very empty, however the crew were very attentive and friendly. Interestingly, the Captain's welcome message included a solemn thank you for flying with them, which we commented on at the time.
OOI, this route is one of the busiest internationally (Top 25 with 4.5Mill pax in 2018 - Thanks Wikipedia). In comparison, SYD-MELB is 3rd with more than double those passenger numbers.

JHB is in Malaysia. I think you mean JNB. You still have time to edit your post and correct.

 

[jase05]

South African government has cut the purse strings so not looking good at all.

Bloomberg - Are you a robot?

 

[moa999]

I believe they are trying to sell the A340s. (Not sure if they have any buyers, and not sure about the spare A320s etc.)

Only buyers for aircraft at the moment will be the scrappers.

 

[Sprucegoose]

South African government has cut the purse strings so not looking good at all.

Bloomberg - Are you a robot?

I am surprised they have lasted this long. It’s (allegedly) a corruptly managed airline and the scandals go way back to the purchase of those inefficient A346’s.

I’ve flown SAA many times and can say with total conviction the Merlot they served was absolute rubbish .......

 

[NickCorr]

I am surprised they have lasted this long. It’s (allegedly) a corruptly managed airline and the scandals go way back to the purchase of those inefficient A346’s.

I’ve flown SAA many times and can say with total conviction the Merlot they served was absolute rubbish .......

My overwhelming memory of SA is getting off the Qantas MEL - PER with seat back screens then jumping onto the PER - JNB and with horror seeing the projectors at the front of each section... Also memorable for the plane hitting some turbulence that was so severe that it caused my laptop HDD to fail mid flight... Now if there had been seat back screens I would not have been watching something on my laptop.....