Gunship
19th Apr 2005, 20:13
SAA has appointed Kyrl Acton, an Irish national with 25 years' experience with leading airlines, to the key position of its chief operating officer.
The appointment has reassured industry partners, who were worried by the lack of aviation experience at the highest levels of the airline after the departure of several senior executives.
Announcing the appointment yesterday, Khaya Ngqula, SAA's chief executive, said: "Kyrl started his airline career with Aer Lingus, where he rose to become the chief executive, passenger service ...
He pioneered a customer-focus programme, which resulted in increased revenue flows and the favourable positioning of the airline in a very competitive and rapidly deregulating market.
"Kyrl joined Lan Chile in 1995 as senior vice-president planning and development. [He] played a leading role in the Lan Chile initial public offering in 1997.
"In 2002, he moved to Unisys, as vice-president transportation for Europe/Middle East/Africa, where he focused on information technology ... Kyrl will join my executive team on April 25."
SAA also said yesterday it would offer four new routes to Europe and the Far East as a result of code sharing arrangements with future partners in the Star Alliance of international airlines.
The new arrangements, giving passengers a wider choice of destinations, resulted from recent meetings between Ngqula and his opposite numbers in Star Alliance airlines.
A connection with Vienna, lost since the withdrawal of Austrian Airlines three years ago, will be restored. SAA's nonstop flights from Johannesburg to Zurich will connect with Austrian Airlines' flights from there to Vienna.
Thai Airways International will return to South Africa in October after several years' absence and carry SAA passengers to Bangkok, a destination from which SAA withdrew more than a year ago.
From July, SAA's flights to Hong Kong will connect with those of Asiana, which will carry its passengers to Seoul.
SAA confirmed that its flights to Accra would continue to Washington under code sharing arrangements with United Airlines, a partner in the Star Alliance, which will carry its passengers on to other US destinations.
This will not affect its code sharing arrangements with US airline Delta on the route from Johannesburg to Atlanta, which will continue for at least two years.
Onkgoptse JJ Tabane, the vice-president communications, said SAA had lifted passenger numbers by 5 percent over the past three months. Its standards of service had improved.
The appointment has reassured industry partners, who were worried by the lack of aviation experience at the highest levels of the airline after the departure of several senior executives.
Announcing the appointment yesterday, Khaya Ngqula, SAA's chief executive, said: "Kyrl started his airline career with Aer Lingus, where he rose to become the chief executive, passenger service ...
He pioneered a customer-focus programme, which resulted in increased revenue flows and the favourable positioning of the airline in a very competitive and rapidly deregulating market.
"Kyrl joined Lan Chile in 1995 as senior vice-president planning and development. [He] played a leading role in the Lan Chile initial public offering in 1997.
"In 2002, he moved to Unisys, as vice-president transportation for Europe/Middle East/Africa, where he focused on information technology ... Kyrl will join my executive team on April 25."
SAA also said yesterday it would offer four new routes to Europe and the Far East as a result of code sharing arrangements with future partners in the Star Alliance of international airlines.
The new arrangements, giving passengers a wider choice of destinations, resulted from recent meetings between Ngqula and his opposite numbers in Star Alliance airlines.
A connection with Vienna, lost since the withdrawal of Austrian Airlines three years ago, will be restored. SAA's nonstop flights from Johannesburg to Zurich will connect with Austrian Airlines' flights from there to Vienna.
Thai Airways International will return to South Africa in October after several years' absence and carry SAA passengers to Bangkok, a destination from which SAA withdrew more than a year ago.
From July, SAA's flights to Hong Kong will connect with those of Asiana, which will carry its passengers to Seoul.
SAA confirmed that its flights to Accra would continue to Washington under code sharing arrangements with United Airlines, a partner in the Star Alliance, which will carry its passengers on to other US destinations.
This will not affect its code sharing arrangements with US airline Delta on the route from Johannesburg to Atlanta, which will continue for at least two years.
Onkgoptse JJ Tabane, the vice-president communications, said SAA had lifted passenger numbers by 5 percent over the past three months. Its standards of service had improved.