"Many folks have current charts on an iPad. Maybe not the best solution but one that can work--at least for SA."
Shep , you are comparing Cathay Dragon to a modern , efficient and competently run company. As was posted earlier, iPad charts are NOT authorized for operational use in KA. Period. Even though they are the same e-charts being used operationally by Cathay Pacific across the road ! Perhaps they have better ipads lol.
The SATCOMs were de comissioned when CX transferred their ageing A330s to KA, but never fitted to the A320s .
My guess is that the usual blinker thinking prevailed and those who are paid to support and provided assistance could not think outside of their tiny boxes to create an effective solution. The irony of IOC.