View Full Version : Oribi "gatvol" with Airlink
RobinB
7th Dec 2007, 07:10
:hmm: Been working out of Hilton for the last week so decided to go to Oribi to "catch some photo action" at Oribi - nothing doing. Anyway, picked up a copy of yesterday's (6 December) "The Witness" and front page news with a beaut pic of two of Airlink's kites "tits up" and an airport full of very frustrated pax.
Quote in said newspaper from PMB Municipality that they want other airlines to operate into Oribi as Pops Chetty, Committee Chairman is quoted as saying "We (council) need to do an investigation to find other airlines to use the airport because Airlink are taking advantage of the fact that passengers do not have a choice".
This after Karen Murray, Marketing and Sales Manager for Airlink, said Airlink does not see any sence in responding to media queries sent to them regarding this issue.
Ho Hum - coming from a Services industry, we have one mantra - we live or die by the quality of service we deliver. Easy as that........
RobinB
7th Dec 2007, 10:06
And we all know how "factual" newspaper reporters are when it comes to aviation!:hmm:
As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words - cannot argue with "facts" when the pic shows Airlink's kites with engine cowles off and a swarm of mechanics all over them :=.
Its amazing how people moan about airlines but what would the maritzburg folks do without Link going in and out of Oribi. Fact is no other airline is willing to go into Oribi due to the surrounding terrain. So go on moan as much as you like...If you dont like Link, dont travel on them and drive to Durbs and catch a flight from there.
ruffrider
7th Dec 2007, 10:32
:D Well said cizzy!:
saywhat
7th Dec 2007, 10:48
Its amazing how people moan about airlines but what would the maritzburg folks do without Link going in and out of Oribi. Fact is no other airline is willing to go into Oribi due to the surrounding terrain. So go on moan as much as you like...If you dont like Link, dont travel on them and drive to Durbs and catch a flight from there.
Well, that makes it OK then. We'll be the only airline to offer a service there, so that when our service sucks, we can tell the flying public to P:mad:ss off, like us or find someone else.......... Good business ethic:uhoh:
dudleydick
7th Dec 2007, 11:46
I was involved in the startup at Oribi in the late 70's with Magnum Airlines.The folk in Maritzburg, and the municipality, welcomed us. There have been several "tries" at PZB by Comair and by SAX, as well as a number of smaller operators. Only Magnum/Link/SAAirlink/Airlink have survived - and I am sure have prospered. It is a tricky place to fly into and even that runway has an unfortunate "hump" in it which the SAX guys will remember.
RobinB
7th Dec 2007, 11:56
So go on moan as much as you like...If you dont like Link, dont travel on them and drive to Durbs and catch a flight from there.
Which is of course, exactly what you do when you are given lousy service ? :hmm: Just love the "Catch-22" offered in this piece of wisdom.
Anyway, not being a "local" to PMB, I guess we can leave it up to "them" to sort out. Seems this latest incident is not the first time such an occurance has been experienced by the locals from PMB. Hey, what about a "Kwatrain" from PMB to FADN - to be operational by 2010, of course...;)
Goffel
7th Dec 2007, 22:34
Rumour has it that Sabian Private Airlines has managed to get an in-road and will be now be starting up as the next airline from Jhb/Lanseria to Oribi, with additional flights from Oribi direct to Cape Town.
It is rumoured that it is all systems go from the PMB municipality on the venture.
Sabian Air have already started advertising for crew in two of the air-magazines...(salaries are very attractive for captains/FO's with benifits to go ).
Apparently the only niggle is the outstanding fuel bill that is owed to PMB Aero Club for fuel uplifted a while ago with a bouncey cheque.....but they have offered to do two bounces per landing so as to be legeally charged for two landings until the fuel bill is paid off.(Obviously the second bounced landing fees going to PMB Aero club).
Oh, they are not looking for experienced crew as the more bounces you do, the quicker the fuel bill will be paid off.
:8 :8 :8
Goffel.....Bored, and wasting your hard earned cash..:E
Avi8tor
8th Dec 2007, 04:39
"We (council) need to do an investigation to find other airlines to use the airport because Airlink are taking advantage of the fact that passengers do not have a choice".
Said it before, competition is a good thing. Would keep RF honest.
Just not sure what you would operate in there other than a J41. Terrain/down hill/down wind and high temps make that place a nightmare. Dont think the market will take a RJ85.
I TOTALLY support the senitment that I would rather have pissed off pax in the terminal than them looking for there bags up Towns Hill somewhere.
grjplanes
8th Dec 2007, 07:58
Just not sure what you would operate in there other than a J41. Terrain/down hill/down wind and high temps make that place a nightmare. Dont think the market will take a RJ85.
Any idea how the first few weeks of BAe146 flights were? Not flying this aircraft to PMB though over the summer-holidays, returning to the route early January again.