South African Airlink - What are their future plans?
The problem is that SA doesn't have and never has had level playing fields for the airlines. Branson is on shakey grounds himself, I doubt if he'll risk getting sucked into SA politics. He is more likely shaking the tree in order to see what will fall out!?
The people at SAX need to question why SAA is speaking on their behalf. Do they really have your interests at heart? They should also see through the attempts to pacify the two strongest unions.(Pilots & Engineers.) Since the SA regulators are incapable of doing their job, it would be refreshing to see the SAX staff standing as one. Forget for once that you are pilots, stand by your less fortunate colleagues. If not, you will continue to see airlines, that YOU fly for, failing. Thats my opinion anyway.
Beware of those who benefit from others misfortune, for it could be you next.
The people at SAX need to question why SAA is speaking on their behalf. Do they really have your interests at heart? They should also see through the attempts to pacify the two strongest unions.(Pilots & Engineers.) Since the SA regulators are incapable of doing their job, it would be refreshing to see the SAX staff standing as one. Forget for once that you are pilots, stand by your less fortunate colleagues. If not, you will continue to see airlines, that YOU fly for, failing. Thats my opinion anyway.
Beware of those who benefit from others misfortune, for it could be you next.
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Claw,
I don't know much about RB and his problems, but SA is becoming one of the top destinations of several major airlines(I seem to recall an article saying BA rated it as no 4 worldwide
) - I think he would do well to get in here - I also think domestic is where SAA actually make some money.
I don't want to be nosey, but I am still interested to know what you did at SAX?
I don't know much about RB and his problems, but SA is becoming one of the top destinations of several major airlines(I seem to recall an article saying BA rated it as no 4 worldwide
) - I think he would do well to get in here - I also think domestic is where SAA actually make some money.I don't want to be nosey, but I am still interested to know what you did at SAX?
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The economics of the SA routes are rather interesting. The peak season is effectively December to March, and of course under those lovely user friendly South African laws perishable produce charters have priority over passenger charters.
Throughout the rest of the year, demand is low on most routes (the primary exception being London) which I believe SAA still pools with BA.
Northbound traffic will be badly hit with the Rand approaching R20 to the £. If there's a resurgence of PAGAD attacks (such as the one on the Hard Rock Cafe at the V&A Waterfront a couple of years back) then expect the southbound traffic to be badly hot as well.
According to today's SA Sunday Times, the economy looks like it's going to melt down next year - high inflation coupled with very high interest rates. And if theres violence in Zimbabwe - or Big Bob rigs the elections (again) then it will collapse even further.
All of this puts the airline industry in a state of flux. Whilst a number of expenses (mainly labour) are incurred in ZAR, the majority are in USD. This means that domestic air fares will rise steeply; and people will not be able to afford to travel. Equally, inflation and the falling rand will cause the labour costs to increase as well - which will drive prices even further up in a vicious circle.
The good news is that you can currently buy bottles of 12yo Chivas Regal for R130 - £8!
Throughout the rest of the year, demand is low on most routes (the primary exception being London) which I believe SAA still pools with BA.
Northbound traffic will be badly hit with the Rand approaching R20 to the £. If there's a resurgence of PAGAD attacks (such as the one on the Hard Rock Cafe at the V&A Waterfront a couple of years back) then expect the southbound traffic to be badly hot as well.
According to today's SA Sunday Times, the economy looks like it's going to melt down next year - high inflation coupled with very high interest rates. And if theres violence in Zimbabwe - or Big Bob rigs the elections (again) then it will collapse even further.
All of this puts the airline industry in a state of flux. Whilst a number of expenses (mainly labour) are incurred in ZAR, the majority are in USD. This means that domestic air fares will rise steeply; and people will not be able to afford to travel. Equally, inflation and the falling rand will cause the labour costs to increase as well - which will drive prices even further up in a vicious circle.
The good news is that you can currently buy bottles of 12yo Chivas Regal for R130 - £8!
SAX is not a failed concept, but yet another organization that has served it's purpose. Roger Foster has the will to survive and wisely is looking beyond the borders of South Africa. 
Long term? Depends on politics.
Long term? Depends on politics.
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It's interesting to read this thread from the start. I seem to notice its come full circle. I asked a question to the effect of what is the future of civil avition in this corner of the world. Ironically no one can make any predictions with any degree of certainty.
My gut instinct is that there will be consequences from the rapid depreciation of the Rand. It will be interesting to see what the consensus of opinion is after the "election" in Zimbabwe. It will probably be about as democratic as the Democratic Republic of Congo....
Its sad to say that so much really hinges on that and really it need not if there was a Government here in SA that would show leadership.
Anyway apologies for the political diatribe but it seems that aviation is just as suseptable to changes in the economic climate as is any other industry or walk of life if not more so.
My gut instinct is that there will be consequences from the rapid depreciation of the Rand. It will be interesting to see what the consensus of opinion is after the "election" in Zimbabwe. It will probably be about as democratic as the Democratic Republic of Congo....
Its sad to say that so much really hinges on that and really it need not if there was a Government here in SA that would show leadership.
Anyway apologies for the political diatribe but it seems that aviation is just as suseptable to changes in the economic climate as is any other industry or walk of life if not more so.
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Yea,yea all you guys
Nobody said anything about Airlink's so called 2 airlines in 1. The boss man wanted the J41 captains to re-apply for positions on the ERJ. Anyhow Airlink pilots body won the court case, and in return the APA chairman got the boot
Result of the court order J41 captains got trained on the ERJ on a 50/50 base. Outside direct captains also got the job 50/50 I think, more like 75/25 on the outsiders favour 
Now the latest is that Zimbabwe captains and F/O are to fill the next course 100% The pilots I believe is really mad and will go to court again. It looks like Airlink do not trust their own captains which they know but rather go for strangers and allow them to ****** up their a/c like the farming insident in Cape Town 
with one of the new captains that took the corner to fast.
Nobody said anything about Airlink's so called 2 airlines in 1. The boss man wanted the J41 captains to re-apply for positions on the ERJ. Anyhow Airlink pilots body won the court case, and in return the APA chairman got the boot
Result of the court order J41 captains got trained on the ERJ on a 50/50 base. Outside direct captains also got the job 50/50 I think, more like 75/25 on the outsiders favour Now the latest is that Zimbabwe captains and F/O are to fill the next course 100% The pilots I believe is really mad and will go to court again. It looks like Airlink do not trust their own captains which they know but rather go for strangers and allow them to ****** up their a/c like the farming insident in Cape Town with one of the new captains that took the corner to fast.
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It leaves you feeling all warm and tingly..with
F!@#$%^&NG!!!!! RAGE...
Well Id like to believe that he is just comiting suicide slowly..
Good luck Bob...Osamas friends from Boeing are coming soon!
This should get its own topic before BOB destroys this nice SAL thread too..
4g(HB)
F!@#$%^&NG!!!!! RAGE...
Well Id like to believe that he is just comiting suicide slowly..
Good luck Bob...Osamas friends from Boeing are coming soon!
This should get its own topic before BOB destroys this nice SAL thread too..
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We all know that the only way to stop the rot; is to stop the rot. Mugabe should have been taken out a long time ago! By the sounds of things on this thread; so should Roger Foster! I bet he's still crying over the training bonds, that he couldn't enforce, for the ATR42 crews. 
er....excuse me 4 HolerPoler ?
Things are so much better elsewhere? When you have a non-Flt. Ops/non-Human Resources person using his sound knowledge to tell you that you do/do not make the grade as a pilot?
Things are so much better elsewhere? When you have a non-Flt. Ops/non-Human Resources person using his sound knowledge to tell you that you do/do not make the grade as a pilot?
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The farming in Cape Town is in fact old news I thought everybody knew it. This new outside captain with Airlink taxied across the runway 19 to back track on 16 in order to use full length on 19 when the taxi way was still closed on "A". He was behind a SAX CRJ on the same taxi route and maybe did not look where he was going and saw the turn (runway 16) too late and took the turn to wide and fast and the nose wheel went into the sand and plough a nice deep trench and got stuck like no John Deer ever would have . But the very clever Trevor is the Airlink management that don't want to listen to the advise of their own pilots. They where also warned to wait until after the Zim. election before they employ Zim. pilots. "Bob" will kick Airlink or Zim. Airlink out of "his" country before you can say "Roger Foster", and then what are they going to do with the Zim pilots. I see another dispute on Willem's table. That poor oke is in the s@^!t from the day he got that job.
I think the big thing here is that the Airlink pilots wants to see that they all soon will fly the ERJ and that nobody must push in. Soon SAX and Airlink will be one airline then the fight will be stronger. Don't understand me wrong I think that most of Airlink captains will rather welcome a SAX pilot on the ERJ then some strange outsider or Zim. pilot. The court order is clear and the new chairman of APA is ready to attack <img src="mad.gif" border="0"> <img src="mad.gif" border="0"> I rest my case.
. But the very clever Trevor is the Airlink management that don't want to listen to the advise of their own pilots. They where also warned to wait until after the Zim. election before they employ Zim. pilots. "Bob" will kick Airlink or Zim. Airlink out of "his" country before you can say "Roger Foster", and then what are they going to do with the Zim pilots. I see another dispute on Willem's table. That poor oke is in the s@^!t from the day he got that job.I think the big thing here is that the Airlink pilots wants to see that they all soon will fly the ERJ and that nobody must push in. Soon SAX and Airlink will be one airline then the fight will be stronger. Don't understand me wrong I think that most of Airlink captains will rather welcome a SAX pilot on the ERJ then some strange outsider or Zim. pilot. The court order is clear and the new chairman of APA is ready to attack <img src="mad.gif" border="0"> <img src="mad.gif" border="0"> I rest my case.
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It seems to me that Roger Forster will fit in nicely with Rob and his bafoons. They're both in this game for themselves. RF didn't hesitate to sack the APA rep for 'gross insubordination', likenend to that of Rob kicking out the farmers.
This is where SAX can be a good example for regionals in SA. Take their successful salary negotiations which ended up in the SAXPA rep receiving a commemorative scroll from ALPA-SA, unlike our colleague at Link.
It was stated in this thread that RF was head- strong and determined, but at what cost? using bully tactics?
Link pilots had better pray that they intergrate with SAX!
This is where SAX can be a good example for regionals in SA. Take their successful salary negotiations which ended up in the SAXPA rep receiving a commemorative scroll from ALPA-SA, unlike our colleague at Link.
It was stated in this thread that RF was head- strong and determined, but at what cost? using bully tactics?
Link pilots had better pray that they intergrate with SAX!
If you consider how many flights SA Airlink fly in a week and the best you can do is the CT farming incident?? At least they are not bending A320's? Whitebug-speed try to look at the bigger picture. SAX prefers their staff to have lived in exile in order to qualify!? Once SAA is the only employer you'll find your demands a lot harder to achieve.Camelhorse,next time you apply for a job outside of SA, I hope you realize that your view is that you shouldn't be allowed work outside of SA? <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0">
[ 20 December 2001: Message edited by: The Claw ]</p>
[ 20 December 2001: Message edited by: The Claw ]</p>
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Lets leave the Mugabe bashing out of this shall we as its spoiling an interesting thread. We all know he's an a#&*@*&% so lets leave him out of it!!! As for Camelhorse learn to spell and have some sort of command of the English language, so at least we can understand what you are talking about!!!!!!! By the way do you work for Link? Cos I sure hope you fly better than you write!!!!Anyway guys keep the thread going and it would be interesting to hear from some SAX guys on the topic at hand.
......Happy landings all!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <img src="mad.gif" border="0"> <img src="mad.gif" border="0"> <img src="mad.gif" border="0">
......Happy landings all!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <img src="mad.gif" border="0"> <img src="mad.gif" border="0"> <img src="mad.gif" border="0">