Fluffyfan.
Your last post makes great sense, even though I hate to admit it.
I also know plenty of guys flying for all the local/regional airlines and have to agree, if the pilots and the unions did not keep it together, the wheels would have been off totally many moons ago. However, its bloody high time that SAA starts playing to the same rule as the rest. However, with SAA, Transnet, the CAA and the NDoT, I cannot see this happening. Protectionism is the name of the game.
From what I gather, the rest of Africa's aviation industry is just as gatvol of SAA (and BIG BROTHER South Africa in general- poking their noses in everywhere) as us"SAA bashers". I can see SAA and SA in general heading for a snotklap or two in the not too distant future.