View Full Version : What happens to all SAA B747-400
alpha-b
27th Dec 2007, 12:59
Hey folks.went to the airport this morning by the view deck and saw an SAA 747-400 which i understand were phased out taking-off and using angola call sign as i could listen with my VHF RECEIVER.Can anybody shed on lights with me on the matter?Regards to all
sbh684b
27th Dec 2007, 17:03
Hi there.
As TAAG was baned from flying into Europe earlier the year they needed to keep their operation going. They WET Leased SAA's 2 B747-400's with GE engines to do the Luanda-Lisbon routes. The TAAG flights are operated by SAA aircraft, crew and cabin crew under a TAAG callsighn.
Cheers
alpha-b
27th Dec 2007, 18:14
Thanks a lot to enlighting me on that matter.That's actually some good revenues for SAA but how long will the contract be going for?are all the SAA 747 operating on behalf of TAAG?what'll happen after the contract?will they sale the planes and move the crews on Airbus?are the crew based in Luanda?Cheers
Perhaps they can loan them to Nationwide?
ERASER
2nd Jan 2008, 04:11
Just some feedback on the remaining 6 SAA B747-400.
ZS-SAX Flying for Transaero (Russia) as VP -BVR
ZS-SAY Grounded - All taped up for paint remover application
ZS-SAK Grounded - Busy with major chk, ident. already being removed.
ZS-SAZ Flying on wet lease for TAAG.
ZS-SBK Grounded - All white
ZS-SBS Grounded - All white
So, if you see the grand old lady flying past, take note or a pic, she will not be around for much longer.
E
Rumour at LHR is we at BA might take a couple of aircraft. We have a projected summer plan which is busy and appears not to have enough hulls to manage the job, but no change there then?
Zachary2
2nd Jan 2008, 07:32
HZ123, which of the 747s are BA taking? Is it the GE engines ZSSBK and SBS?
I have an info that two GE engined planes will be subleased to Phillipine Airlines..
Lets see which paint will be put on the two all-white B747s.. I hope somebody can post a snap shot?
777Contrail
2nd Jan 2008, 18:39
I had a few frosties with a few friends and the latest rumour has it that those -400's repainted for BA will be going to Comair for their planned entry into the longhaul market. Also heard PC is back from Singapore to help them do it..............
Well this IS a rumour network....................:E
alpha-b
2nd Jan 2008, 18:39
Happy new year to all.Many thanks to Eraser for shedding some lights.By the way what happened to the 747 drivers?Cheers
ByAirMail
3rd Jan 2008, 07:42
OASIS Hong Kong made an offer for the 747-400's and simulators. This is a OFFER only and OASIS is in no rush to take delivery as they are back logged with crew training and have just took delivery of another airframe.
SortieIII
4th Jan 2008, 14:33
By the way what happened to the 747 drivers?
They were all taken round the back of the B747 hangar and shot!:rolleyes:
Drove past ORTIA this afternoon and saw a B747-400 parked on Echo Apron - still in SAA livery. Couldn't see if it was ZS-SAZ.
Should it not be flying out of Luanda?
Springbok747
28th May 2008, 17:35
ZS-SAZ Flying on wet lease for TAAG.
They WET Leased SAA's 2 B747-400's with GE engines to do the Luanda-Lisbon routes.
As far as I know the 744 with GE engines are ZS-SBK and ZS-SBS:confused::confused::confused:
Loose_Footlong
31st May 2008, 20:03
Drove past ORTIA this afternoon and saw a B747-400 parked on Echo Apron - still in SAA livery. Couldn't see if it was ZS-SAZ.
Should it not be flying out of Luanda?
The plane on lease to Angolan is ZSSAZ, and does rotations to JNB, alternating with their B772 and B743.
ERASER
1st Jun 2008, 08:45
Just some feedback....
ZS-SAZ is still doing the JHB-LAD-LIS-LAD-JHB route.
The other B744 a/c (ZS-SBS/SBK/SAK/SAY) were painted in all white and still in SAA Technical.
E
PS The B747 SP ZS-SPE will be broken up shortly followed by the B732s and B743s.
Not sure if this topic is still being followed, but I noticed a SAA B747 departing London Heathrow this week. It is the 2nd SAA B747 I've seen departing over the last few weeks and was surprised as I was under the assumption that SAA had replaced all B747's with A340's. I checked the departure time with both the BAA website and flightstats website and they both confirmed that it was the 19:00 departure of SA235 to JNB. Does anyone have any further information as to why these B747's are back in service? They don't appear on the SAA website.
5711N0205W
3rd Sep 2010, 11:35
Another thread reports wing spar cracks in some SAA Airbus, could be related.
arf1410
3rd Sep 2010, 14:33
If you look at (or download) the SAA PDF timetable from their website, on at least one route (and likely others) it shows the equipment as a 747 until Sept 24, then an A340 after that. So looks like the 747 is not actually completely phased out...yet...
I flew with SAA from JNB to LOS and back a couple of times during the last two years always on the B747. It seems they had 2 B747 flying to some African destinations, one in full colours and other one totally white.
Goldfish Jack
4th Sep 2010, 04:58
THey were due to go any day now, but due to probs with Airbus maintainence they will be around for a few months still.
ERASER
5th Sep 2010, 07:12
B744 (ZS-SBS) is currently in for a C-Check (major check) and will most probably depart for the new owner just after this check. SAA has now only one B744 (ZS-SAZ) operating.
E