SAA Takeover?
 

Bit worrying for the international fleet staff...... (Lifted off AVCOM)

South African Airways in takeover talks with three major competitors
Sunday, 22 June 2008

TROUBLED Johannesburg-based airline South African Airways (SAA) is believed to be in talks with Lufthansa, Emirates
and bmi for those airlines to takeover and operate SAA's major international routes, including the well performed
Australia route.
The deal, if it comes off, would see SAA selling its international traffic rights to the three airlines, which would then
operate passenger and cargo services on the routes on behalf of SAA using their own aircraft and staff.
SAA would then be able to concentrate on developing its South Africa and Africa networks.
If approved the deal could be a win-win situation for all airlines in the talks.
Cash-strapped SAA has been struggling for several years and would be hard-pressed to buy sorely-needed new fuel
efficient aircraft. Emirates and Lufthansa, two of the strongest airlines in the world, have the resources to buy new aircraft
and operate efficient and profitable services.
The radical deal may run into a few regulatory hurdles along the way, particularly in Australia if Emirates was to try to
operate SAA flights between Australia and South Africa. But if it could be made to work it would give SAA valuable
breathing space as it, along with all other airlines, battles record fuel prices and softening global economies.

Rumour spread by MICEBTN news. They have been asked by SAA to withdraw the article as it is incorrect.

Thanks for putting the record staight FlyK, :ok:- always amazes my how folk would believe the worst (especially from SAA) - the article refers to "more fuel efficient" 'planes, thought A 340, B737-8 and A 319 are market leaders here, suppose such article writers never let facts influence a good story??:ugh: