South African Airways Pushes for Better International Service standards
South African Airways, an airline having just won, once again, the international Skytrax airline ranking "Best Airline to Africa" award, coupled with a join to intercontinental airline group, "Star Alliance" has recently began a further upgrade to their International service, especially hoping for a domination of the airline for UK - South Africa competitive route.
Combined with PAX suggestions, results being upgrading economy class legroom onboard all new Airbus A340's - (300E's and 600's), some of which are still being converted (Increasing seat pitch and moving IFE boxes), South African Airways is encouraged by their fortune that main rival competitor, British Airways are still making cost cuts on the profitable route, decreasing, once again, the standards of economy class service while SAA themselves, are adding those small extras to hopefully attract customers towards them, with a hopeful attempt of being the dominant airline for the routes (Joburg - London, and Cape Town - London).
SAA have recently introduced menu's back into the economy class service, along with upgrading amenity kits, onboard catering and In-flight entertainment - now offering the MAS 3000 video on demand systems to all passengers aboard any Airbus A340-300 or 600 series jet, which are servicing London more frequently as more of the new jets come in, which replace the Boeing 747-400's which previously and to some extent still servicing or serviced the route.
These added extras are a even bigger benefit to SAA as British Airways discontinue offering amenity kits, lower catering service futher, failing to meet what is seen by leading airlines as primary service industry standards - an IFE system which does not offer Video on Demand.
SAA are also enjoying the strong punctuality records they are having on the route, espesicially comparing themselves to the weaker British Airways statistics for the London - Cape Town service.
Both passengers of and SAA itself, hope and look forward to a strong path forward on the intercontinental service in and out of South Africa, hoping leading the profiting industry to another good change on the routes worldwide, Europe America and Australia, out of RSA.