SA Airlink for sale?
 

Heard the RUMOUR yesterday that SA Airlink is for sale.
Is this true?

:confused:

Haven't seen any "FOR SALE" signs yet. Don't think it holds much water. Sounds like somebody is stirring.:E Maybe at SA Express to try and divert attention from their CEO debacle! Who knows?

If you can judge by the web site ..
 

Guns, I reckon the website is fairly on track. Have it reliably that Airlink is flying more than ever before and that the Embraer deliveries have been slowed down (they have five now) due to the economic climate.

I honestly think this is just a case of the Airlink/SAX merger rumours (of which this forum is full) blowing hot again.

This story surfaces every few months, along with the Link/SAX merger and the Link/SAX/SAA merger. You could make a list of the variables for purchase/buy-out/go-broke of all three and then just tick them off when they surface.

One month, SAX is the one talked about as being in trouble and the next month it is Link. SAA is, of course, constantly in trouble. :E

South Africa probably has too many regionals for the long term and some merging will take place. But, as the market is still quite young, that may be a few years off. But, in this rapidly changing world, all bets are off. Particularly if the deflation that is now extant in 1st world countries continues for long, my quess is that it will. But please ignore what I say as I am neither in economics or the airline biz!

<snaps fingers> "Hey, Hostie!" <whistles between his fingers> "Bring us another brandy and coke!"

Rumours
 

There are definately no "FOR SALE" signs on the doors, the airline has made a good improvment from their situtaion last year when a number of crew got furloughed. We have been employing a number of crew , both EMB and J41 since January this year, about 15 or so new pilots. All furloughed crew had the option to return to the company. The further delivery of EMB is on hold, when the next one arrives is anybodys guess!

WF, Obviously you are with Airlink.:ok: Come on boet, give us the hotties!:suspect:

If I can ..
 

Hi Wild Frequency

Any idea what experience level the 15 new guys were? What does a new FO earn with Link these days? Heard rumours that entry salary had been reduced?!

Details
 

KASAC 7,

All pilot salaries scales have been reviewed and they have definitely increased! The increases are reasonable considering that Airlink was in a fianancial "dwang" last year. Obviously the pilots are not earning SAA type salaries, but then Airlink does not have access to the mighty government cheque book!!

On the experience level, the new chaps generally all have turbine time of some form or other, not always twin turbine time though. Some have CPL's, others have ATP's. Total times varying between 1000 - 2500 hours and background experience mainly contract/charter flying. I apologise for not been able to give you the exact entry requirments for either of the two fleets (EMB and J41), but that has become an ever changing goalpost.

Possible interviews in June/July again, but that could be office rumours! Send me a private maessage if you guys would like the contact details for CV's.

Thanks!!

The info helps as I am currently in that bracket of experience. My only concern is can I afford to support a family in Jo'burg on the salary offered?

I guess there is only one way to find out?!

Guns, according to SAA's timetable Airlink flies CT-UT, CT-PE, CT-SUN CITY, CT-HOEDSPRUIT, CT-GG, CT-KM, CT-PRIMKOP and (I think) a couple of other routes out of Slaapstad.

WildFrequency, thanks for the PM.

Whats the plan for the J41s?
 

Reason I ask is that my best mate's Dad is a TRE on the J41 at BAE Woodford (Manchester). BAE are in pretty big problems from what I hear. The largest American operator of the J41 has apparently cancelled their lease agreement with BAE and BAE are to collect them all. Apparently BAE even offered them for free (just a maintenance contract) but the operator refused.

So bearing this in mind I'd be interested to know how the J41 is liked by crew and pax? And whether it is more profitable to operate than the ERJs they are now flying.

Guns, it's lekker to be back, thanks. From what I hear the guys at Airlink enjoy both the J41's and, off course, the ERJ135's tremendously. I won't elaborate on what has been fought before on this forum (performance differences between the J41 & Dash 8 and the ERJ135 & CRJ200) as we all know that the J41 and the ERJ135 are superior in performance. :E The Canadian machines were built for snow and ice and minus temps - not for Africa (they may also be able to operate in Belgium I believe - are you reading Mr. Vandemr?:E). Bottom line here is - only good stuff works in Africa. :}

Primkop is the new Nelspruit - called Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. About 30 clicks north of Nellies.

I don't think Airlink is the jumping post for bigger airlines but they do lose the odd pilot here and there to SAA, Comair and Nationwide. This of course excludes the cadet scheme.

GT, I don't know what the plans for the J41's are but they must be getting long in the tooth now. I reckon a big drawback for the J41 was when BAe (?) imposed a reduced performance restriction on the aircraft after corrosion problems surfaced with the propellor blades. Only new blades can operate 'unrestricted' or something like that. With the limited production run of the J41 (104 aircraft?) the prop manufacturer has no further interest, so more and more J41's world-wide will become performance restricted in future. Maybe that's why the American operator opted out of their lease agreement.

I'm not a bean counter so cannot comment on differences in profitability between the two types. What I do know is that the ERJ is supposed to operate to a totally different profile than the J41. The J41 is essentially a short sector (I was told 1 hour or so is optimal) aircraft whereas the ERJ135 is for medium sector routes.

Cheers vir eers.

Dumela BAKELA,

I gather from all your passed mail that you are a J41 driver just upgraded to the ERJ 135 & still trying to cope with the “New Jet Hard On” Experience.

You must be careful …..with most of the blood drawn from your top storey, one Is bound to make a fool out of yourself from time to time.

I would like to give you some pointers regarding the SAX Canadian Aircraft that was not build for AFRICA.

The Canadian Aircraft that SAX use do a Average of 3000 hrs per year each.
The Canadian Aircraft that SAX use operate at a technical dispatch reliable factor of 97%.
The Canadian Aircraft that SAX use can carry 50 pax & are heavier, maybe that Is why the climb performance can not match your ERJ & J 41.

“Not bad for a Aircraft that were not build for AFRICA”

PS: I wonder If SAX did not give Airlink all the routes, If you oke’s would still be operating?
I also wonder why the Major share holder wants to sell his share in Airlink?

Vrottels

Missing the boat!
 

Kunjani Vrottels,

Couldn't be more wrong boet. :cool: I'm not a J41 or ERJ driver but happen to know al four types mentioned quite well. By the way, welcome to PPrune bru. :ok: Nice meeting you.

From my post I Obviously my evil ;) comments spurred you into a reply. Bakgat man, that's what I wanted. There's far too few guys from SAX on here and it seems like there's quite a few Airlink guys around PPrune. But I won't continue the argument about performance - there's been too many posts already on the topic. :zzz: Although, I must say, I've flown in all four types mentioned and the ERJ does seem to give one a lack of blood in the upper regions. Nice machine. :ok:

Not being a driver at Airlink I cannot comment on the routes you say that SAX gave to Airlink, nor can I comment on the shareholder you refer to. Who is the "Major shareholder" in Airlink anyway?:confused:

Salagahlè
BAKELA

Vrottels, Now that explains to me why a Cessna 150 outclimbs a C130!!! :} :} :}

Vrottels,

Who gave who the routes??

Maybe if SAX chose aircraft they could afford, they wouldn't be in the dwang today! :rolleyes: Hardly an example of a success story? :confused:

Routes
 

I'll play neutral here, SAX gave Airlink routes for 6 months, the routes been:-

1) Cape Town - Sun City - Cape Town
2) Cape Town - Hoedspruit - Cape Town
3) Cape Town - Port Elizabeth - Cape Town
4) Cape Town - Port Elizabeth - Durban - Cape Town (SAA route I believe)
5) Durban - East London - Durban

In turn SAX has taken two DASH8 to Tanzania to fly regional routes there, I guess its got to do with the SAA/Air Tanzania deal, SAA owns a BIG share of Air Tanzania now! What happens at the end of this contract, I do not know.