4HolerPoler:
I think nobody has answered your remark concerning ex DLH A340s yet... you are right:
AFAIK, at least four of the six A342 (yes, -200s!) will be leased/sold to SAA after DLH handed them back to AI. Each transfer is scheduled after D1-check (commencing on the first a/c sometime around Jan./Feb. 03).
Having read all your performance thoughts I must say I am worried about the A342s with the C2 engines having to climb out of JNB (I was pax on a rather new DLH A343 recently doing exactly that - and it was a frightening long take-off run...!)
Nevertheless: A340s are great aircraft (except for some "troublesome" areas like ATA 32, 28, 21/36... *g*).
J.V.