SAA opts for Airbus
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SAA opts for Airbus
That was quite a fight between A&B.. .. .From SAA:. .. .07 March, 2002: SAA OPTS FOR AIRBUS TO SUPPLY NEW FLEET . .. .07 March, 2002, Johannesburg: South African Airways has chosen Airbus to fulfil its fleet requirements.. .“In Airbus, SAA has chosen a good and an efficient partner to help turnaround the airline to profitability and restore its competitiveness. Airbus offers lower operating costs and good product offering," said SAA President and CEO, André Viljoen.. .“The new fleet will give us flexibility to deploy it on most of our network and routes. It also gives SAA 10% more seat capacity,” Viljoen added. “In line with our strategy of Perfecting the Basics, we strive to provide our passengers with the most modern, reliable and safe mode of travel as well as seamless customer service excellence,” he said.. .The total value of the fleet renewal programme is at a list price of $3.5 billion. “I am proud to announce that SAA has successfully negotiated a highly competitive net price for this new fleet,” Viljoen said.. .The fleet renewal will enable SAA to meet noise requirements at overseas airports, fly more cost-effective, low maintenance and fuel efficient aircraft to ensure long term profitability.. .SAA plans to replace two Boeing 767s, and the Classics: five 747-200s, six 747-300s and three 747SP, twenty-two 737-200s, sixteen 737-800 aircraft in eight to nine years.. .These will be replaced by: Six A340-600, Six A340-300, Eleven A319-100 and Fifteen A320-200.. .The A319-100 will replace the B737-200 when these aircraft lease period expires in 2005. The introduction of the A320-200 will replace the existing B737-800 in 2010 and 2011.. .The first planes, through both leasing and outright purchase, will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2002, and this will be completed by 2010/2011. Airbus will provide both pilot and cabin crew and technical staff conversion training.. .The announcement was made by Public Enterprise Minister Jeff Radebe and Viljoen at SAA’s headquarters. This ended months of intense, detailed and in-depth analysis by SAA to determine which manufacturer, Boeing or Airbus, will be chosen to supply the airline with new fleet.. .Viljoen said the new fleet will help attract tourists to the country and create more jobs.. .“SAA has undoubtedly been the backbone of the tourism industry by flying visitors to the majority of the country’s tourist attractions. The new fleet fits well in the promotion of tourism.. .“More passengers on airplanes, guests in hotels and visitors to South Africa’s attractions mean more jobs and a better quality of life for our people,” said Viljoen.. .Airbus and Boeing were asked in September last year to submit proposals in an equitable, transparent and fair bidding process. . .“The process that SAA followed to determine the content of our future fleet has been objective and transparent. The evaluation criteria included, fleet commonality, the ability to take off and operating economics.. .Issued by SAA Corporate Communications
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SAA missed out big time.... . .. .Plenty of 777's around at favorable lease rates. Delta even tried to pawn some excess 777s off on them recently. Sure, I understand the commonality issue to reduce training and spares costs... However, keeping the 744s around will reduce some of the commonality benefits - I guess if you are going to go with Airbus you should go "all" Airbus to MAXIMIZE the commonality benefits.... .. .In the end, the 777-200/300 beats the A340 200/300/600 anytime in terms of performance, passenger comfort (personal experience) and looks - it just looks better. The anti-777 ETOPS argument doesn't work with me given that A330s are employed on long-distance over-water flights as well.. .. .My preferred fleet plan for SAA:. .. .777-200s and 300s for extra long-haul. .A321s for Medium haul. .A319s (and a few A320s) for short-to-medium haul. .CRJ-200 and 700 regional (use commuter network better for feed). .. .Just my opinion. Good luck to all SAA personnel - it's great that the old fleet will be retired anyway.... .. .Ciao
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My dear LAVDUMP:. .. .Sorry but I can't agree with you. Having flown the 777 before and the 330/340 now, I have to say that when you talk about climb peformance the 777, being a twin, is of course outperforming the 340. But once in cruise the 340 is more efficient and according to our cost analasys also overall the 340 is more efficient and cheaper to operate. And I'm not even talking about the much improved 340-500 and -600.
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Partial amendment to my last posting.... .. .I understand that the 744s are needed for the cargo space and are used on the extra-long-haul South Afric-US and UK flights. Certainly if cargo revenues were consistent and the marginal revenue gained could compensate for lack of fleet commonality, then maybe they should be kept around. . .. .Excluding the cargo angle, I still think the 777-200/300 (ER versions) would suit SAA just fine. As for range and over-water flying, China Southern uses 777s to fly from Southern China to Los Angeles nonstop and MAS uses 777s to fly from Dubai to Newark nonstop - they are very capable (and very comfortable from a passenger standpoint). I have not been impressed with the A340 comfort on long-haul flights personally.. .. .I also think SAA needs to coordinate better with its commuter partners - SAA Airlink and South African Express. I think the CRJs and ERJs should be better optimized to link with connecting long-haul flights - maybe banks of flights (of course depends upon airfield capacity). The RJs should be flying further afield and/or should be used on a more business-friendly high utilization schedule (on the hour) among the bigger cities. Once RJ markets are developed, A319s should be deployed in conjunction with RJ flights. I guess the J41s and Dash 8s can still be used on local feeder flights to support the network - although EMB-135s could eventually replace their turboprop counterparts on most routes (excluding difficult-to-get-into Skakuza and other places requiring a Dash 8) once a sufficient number are employed (for economies of scale benefits). I'd prefer to see an all Embraer regional jet fleet given the flexibility of the EMB-135 and 145LR (long-range version).. .. .These are just suggestions. Thanks for your time...............
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LAVDUMP, the ETOPS issue is a valid one. Click on the link below to see JNB-EZE, GIG and GRU direct routings. The shaded area is where 180 minutes ETOPs is. In a 777, you would have a detour to make. . .. .However, with 207 ETOPS, it's another story. But I doubt SAA could be bothered.. .. .<a href="http://gc.kls2.com/cgi-bin/gc?PATH=JNB-GIG%0D%0AJNB-GRU%0D%0AJNB-EZE%0D%0A&RANGE=&PATH-COLOR=red&PAT" target="_blank">http://gc.kls2.com/cgi-bin/gc?PATH=JNB-GIG%0D%0AJNB-GRU%0D%0AJNB-EZE%0D%0A&RANGE=&PATH-COLOR=red&PAT</a> H-UNITS=mi&SPEED-GROUND=&SPEED-UNITS=kts&RANGE-STYLE=best&RANGE-COLOR=navy&MAP-STYLE=&ETOPS=180. . . . <small>[ 07 March 2002, 20:13: Message edited by: BahrainLad ]</small>
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Heavens Gate,. .. .Thanks for your reply. You are correct about cruise efficiency. Although I bet the efficiency difference is not too dramatic in the end. I am sure the A340-600 will be even more efficient as technology improves. This is an argument that I probably can't win - but, you must admit, having either 777s or A340/A330s will save a bundle in terms of efficiency over the motley of 747s they currently operate... I still think the 777 would have looked beautiful in SAA colours!!!!!!. .. .Incidentally, Heaven's Gate, from a flying perspective, since you have been LUCKY enough to fly both the 777 and the A340/A330, which do you prefer as a pilot? If you could fly either for the rest of your career (I am assuming with Air France), which would you fly if routes and pay were similar and why? . .. .Thanks for your perspective and good points regarding efficiency, etc.. .. .Cheers
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Hello Lavdump,. .. ."777-200/300.... and it just looks better.". .. .You must be an artist or philosopher, I think. Discussed it with my dachshound, he opposed me and came to the inner cirle: "he means, my dog is better than your dog! And doesn't know, I'm the best dog." Then asked my girl friend. She opposed my dog and is convinced, that triple 7 is more beautiful than Airbus. Surrender!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />
