#King Shaka International Airport - Durban [Part 3]

[Dale1]

That is fantastic! Finally, and there will be first class as well. Good to know that passenger numbers are exceeding 80%. Now all we need is London & Nairobi to start, which Comair announced last year, and 2012/13 will be an awesome year for KSIA.

[dysan1]

Originally Posted by Durbs777

I think those you speak of, flying to JHB to catch EK, are those flying business class. Just on principle of the matter, if the cost of travel is going to be the same, yet the difference in J product is so vast, I dont see why anyone should have a problem with someone flying to JHB to catch the 777 or A380 (again, for J or F class purposes). If its Y class, it doesnt matter, sure the 777 has ICE, but that's it, plus i'm sure once you connect out of DXB you probably will be on a 777 anyway, if thats what you want. Besides, the A330 feels more comfortable (less cramped).

I used my miles to upgrade to business on a 777 to JHB, and it was the best flight of my life, felt like a king on the flat-lie seats with massive ICE screens and massage functions.... but one look at the A330 product, and it doesnt make sense, its more of a premium economy than business class.

So back to Durban's needs, Emirates is giving the impression that DUR is not able to sustain a good business product (since those J and F seats actually pay-off the plane and make the profits). I dont know for sure if there is enough business demand, but one thing is certain, whether you are "Durban-loyal" or not, if you spend 30grand of your own money on a flight, it better be the best. We've discussed already about how dumb airlines actually are by missing the amount of local connections that are made to catch their flights, so i wouldn't expect them to think outside their air-sickness bag, and count the actual business passengers originating in DUR.

If someone is flying durban to joburg to get Emirates business class to Europe than I feel that's even more stupid! You can get any number of airlines flying direct to europe on their business class with far less hassle

[dysan1]

Great to see Emirates finally announce the upgrade. I am gladly impressed that they will be offering their top of the range 773ER, and not the 772! Indeed good news, as 83% ave fill sounds rather high, correct me if I am wrong,

[Switch]

Bookings on emirates.com still showing A330-200!

[Switch]

I wonder if you will be getting a new aircraft?
Emirates took delivery of a B777-300ER in December - A6-EGL
And will be taking deliver of B777-300ER soon - A6-EGM

[Durbsboi]

Thats flippen impressive! I still think they need to introduce a new flight as well. ACSA also need to speed up their investigation in bringing in more international flights to KISA. Still think they can throw Qatar and Etihad our way.

[Caisson Boy]

I doubt whether Etihad will fly ex KSIA. They have ceased flying from Cape Town, and I think they will add another flight ex JNB ORTIA, according to their inflight magazine for January.

[annman]

If CTIA with 8.3million PAX cannot support another Middle-Eastern airline, I doubt KSIA with 5million PAX can. However, I do think there must be room for a London, Mumbai and maybe Nairobi link to KSIA. Really hope they get a link to Europe and India soon.

[Durbsboi]

We spoke about a London route but to Gatwick rather than Heathrow, also Virgin was investigating a possible Durban to Manchester route.

[dysan1]

Qatar will have to keep Durban on their radar if they want capacity increases to South Africa, as JHB cannot go double daily or get an increase until the other cities are served.

Will be interesting to hear from Comair as they said they would give an update on the routes they planned from Durban in Q1 2012.

Also with SA Express planning to launch regional routes from Durban there may be news from them in the coming months.

And on a smaller scale, LAM have mentioned re-introducing their Durban flights.

[SUNS 25]

dysan1?

Which is the number of airline companies operating in King Shaka International Airport?

[GregPz]

Originally Posted by dysan1

Will be interesting to hear from Comair as they said they would give an update on the routes they planned from Durban in Q1 2012.

Shortly after Novick left Comair said they were scrapping LGW plans for the foreseeable future.

[dysan1]

Where did you see that? If that is the case they will lose all incentives and benefits they have already accrued in the deal between themselves and KSIA and the Dube Tradeport authority.

[Durbs777]

Awesome news for Durban .... Lets hope they stick to it!
Lets see the other airlines try to play catch-up now.... I think Durban would be the perfect battleground for some airlines to square off trying to get the majority of market share (BA vs SAX for regional, Emirates vs Qatar for international, SAA in the mix.... all in an ideal world)

[Durbs777]

Originally Posted by dysan1

If someone is flying durban to joburg to get Emirates business class to Europe than I feel that's even more stupid! You can get any number of airlines flying direct to europe on their business class with far less hassle

True, but not the point I was trying to make. It was just about avoiding the EK A330 from DBN because of its inferior J-class product. What you fly from JHB was of no concern.
But atleast from June, thats no longer an issue!

[GregPz]

Originally Posted by dysan1

Where did you see that? If that is the case they will lose all incentives and benefits they have already accrued in the deal between themselves and KSIA and the Dube Tradeport authority.

I read it somewhere in an interview with Erik Venter shortly after Novick resigned. He said it was too risky in the current economic climate.

[Switch]

"So far the only other international airline flying into Durban is Air Mauritius, although British Airways (BA) has regularly investigated the market. BA/Comair suggested extending its BA franchise for southern Africa to serve the route last year, but was advised against it after BA carried out a feasibility study."

http://www.iol.co.za/business/busine...rban-1.1214834

[dysan1]

Then they have quite a bit of money to pay back to the Dube Tradeport

[Switch]

I still can't get it into my head how Emirates can say there is strong demand and upgrade to a bigger aircraft with 30% more capacity and other airlines are saying it isn't feasible?

I just read that BA are considering a third flight to JHB with an A380. Do they think that none of there passengers travel to Durban?

Who is not telling the truth? Are Emirate really having that much demand or are they trying to stimulate it? Are the other airlines missing something?

What percentage of people come to SA for business and what percente for holidays? I feel sorry for people coming on holiday and staying in JHB, and even having to travel through there to get to the coast!

[dysan1]

BA are Oldschool. They are not adventurous in their approach to new routes. They also probably would not have allowed Comair to fly to the UK. But then if they wanted to fly direct to Durban on their own, Comair would not allow that as they would lose the connecting passengers from Durban, hence damaging their business...

But yes, clearly Emirates have seen a need, esp since they offerring First Class Suites as well!