SAA losing 747-400's to Cathay

[4HolerPoler]

Speednews is reporting two SAA 747-400's are on their way to Cathay as part of an eight ship pre-owned acquisition by Cathay. I was under the impression that the -400's were fully employed on the London routes, as well as doing Lagos & Luanda. Are the -400's days with SAA numbered?

4HP

[SortieIII]

Believe that two -400's are planned to exit in 2006. This was originally planned for 2005, but has been renegotiated?

Don't know anything about Cathay being involved, but anything is possible!

[concordino]

Cathay ordered 8 secondhand 744's two of which will be RR powered from BA and the rest will all be from SQ powered by PW.

I doubt SAA's 744 are headed for CX, but then again anything is possible these days.

:)

[George Tower]

I was always under the impression that CX was only interested in RR powered aircraft?

[whodunnit2]

Cathay has announced that they have bought 8 second-hand B744's. The 2 RR's powered aeroplanes are definitely coming from SAA while the 6 PW powered ones are from SQ.

Four of the aircraft will go to the freighter fleet while the other 4 will enter service on the pax fleet. The number of B744 & B744F will grow from 24 to 33 as there is also a brand new Super-Freighter on order.

George Tower - You are spot on. CX was only ever interested in RR powered aircraft but I guess they couldn't find enough of them for sale at the right price.

Does this mean that the rest of SAA's 400's are also on the way out? Sad day when that happens. The 600 at an airshow will be nice but not half as nice as the bigboy!

W2

[SubsonicMortal]

Yes it's true that even the majestic 747-400's will dissapear from the SAA fleet. The arrival of that day will be sad but it's part of the fleet replacement program SAA has in progres to finally have an all-Airbus fleet. I saw a picture taken in Hamburg last week of the first SAA A319 sporting SAA colours. If I remember right it is due for delivery within the next few months. I also read about CX acquiring 8 747's with plans of more Airbusses arriving from next year on.

What does SQ stand for? Are those the Trend engines?


Here is the link to the colorfoul new lady to enter South African turf: SAA A319 (http://www.airliners.net/open.file/632571/L/)

Interesting to note the aircraft is still registered as German.

:ok:

[whodunnit2]

SM

SQ stands for Singapore Airlines.

W2:ok:

[SortieIII]

Do you have a source, whodunnit2?

[concordino]

This is he article as it appeared in ATW online.

Cathay Pacific finally announced that it will acquire eight used 747-400s, half of which will be converted into freighters. Those aircraft, along with nine ordered earlier this year, will grow the airline's fleet from 86 to 103 by 2006. Of the eight 747-400s, Cathay will purchase seven and lease one. They will arrive from now until 2006 and will be obtained from a number of owners and operators. While the airline did not detail the source of the aircraft, Singapore Airlines and British Airways are expected to be sellers. Six of the eight will be powered by PW4056 engines and the other two by RB211-524s. SIA 747s are equipped with the Pratt powerplants while BA's sport the Rolls engine. All the aircraft are of a similar age to the 19 747-400 passenger and five 747-400 freighter aircraft already in operation with Cathay. According to Deputy Chairman and CEO David Turnbull, this "latest acquisition, along with our order for nine new aircraft made earlier in the year, represents one of the fastest programs of fleet growth in the airline's history."

:cool:

[whodunnit2]

The 2 RR's powered aircraft are definitely coming from SAA and not BA.

That is according to the Cathay Chief Pilot as well as the Director of Flight Ops.

It's sad to see "Spoories" losing 400's.

:)

[SkyBat]

ZS-SFD (A319) arrives in 10 days (25th) followed by 1 A319 monthly until June 2005 (11 in total)

[SAA201]

Just wondering which of the SAA B747-444's it is likely to be and when. My guess would be the two oldest aircraft, ZS-SAV and SAW, possibly early next year when SAA's next two A340-600's arrive? Can anyone confirm?

At one stage last year there was a rumour that SAA would get the 3 A340-600's that Cathay currently has. Any more on this?