SAA opts for Airbus
That was quite a fight between A&B.. .. .From SAA:. .. .07 March, 2002: SAA OPTS FOR AIRBUS TO SUPPLY NEW FLEET . .. .07 March, 2002, Johannesburg: South African Airways has chosen Airbus to fulfil its fleet requirements.. .“In Airbus, SAA has chosen a good and an efficient partner to help turnaround the airline to profitability and restore its competitiveness. Airbus offers lower operating costs and good product offering," said SAA President and CEO, André Viljoen.. .“The new fleet will give us flexibility to deploy it on most of our network and routes. It also gives SAA 10% more seat capacity,” Viljoen added. “In line with our strategy of Perfecting the Basics, we strive to provide our passengers with the most modern, reliable and safe mode of travel as well as seamless customer service excellence,” he said.. .The total value of the fleet renewal programme is at a list price of $3.5 billion. “I am proud to announce that SAA has successfully negotiated a highly competitive net price for this new fleet,” Viljoen said.. .The fleet renewal will enable SAA to meet noise requirements at overseas airports, fly more cost-effective, low maintenance and fuel efficient aircraft to ensure long term profitability.. .SAA plans to replace two Boeing 767s, and the Classics: five 747-200s, six 747-300s and three 747SP, twenty-two 737-200s, sixteen 737-800 aircraft in eight to nine years.. .These will be replaced by: Six A340-600, Six A340-300, Eleven A319-100 and Fifteen A320-200.. .The A319-100 will replace the B737-200 when these aircraft lease period expires in 2005. The introduction of the A320-200 will replace the existing B737-800 in 2010 and 2011.. .The first planes, through both leasing and outright purchase, will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2002, and this will be completed by 2010/2011. Airbus will provide both pilot and cabin crew and technical staff conversion training.. .The announcement was made by Public Enterprise Minister Jeff Radebe and Viljoen at SAA’s headquarters. This ended months of intense, detailed and in-depth analysis by SAA to determine which manufacturer, Boeing or Airbus, will be chosen to supply the airline with new fleet.. .Viljoen said the new fleet will help attract tourists to the country and create more jobs.. .“SAA has undoubtedly been the backbone of the tourism industry by flying visitors to the majority of the country’s tourist attractions. The new fleet fits well in the promotion of tourism.. .“More passengers on airplanes, guests in hotels and visitors to South Africa’s attractions mean more jobs and a better quality of life for our people,” said Viljoen.. .Airbus and Boeing were asked in September last year to submit proposals in an equitable, transparent and fair bidding process. . .“The process that SAA followed to determine the content of our future fleet has been objective and transparent. The evaluation criteria included, fleet commonality, the ability to take off and operating economics.. .Issued by SAA Corporate Communications