Aviation Thread [Part 5]

[juzzy]

Originally Posted by evanb

Unfortunately this is not true since CPT is not A380 ready and there are no immediate plans to make it so!

im just relaying the info. I have mentioned that to the person invloved...it is the 2011/2012 operating plan though, 2012 is still a while away

[Mo Rush]

Originally Posted by Mo Rush

I could be wrong, but I've heard that for some reason there is now pressure on CTIA to deliver space for the A380?

I can't see that there is such demand that in the next 3 years, an "expansion" for an A380 is critical?

I'd assume the runway realignment, based on alleged confidential documents I am waiting for, is more important.

Re: A380

As I posted on November 21 2010.

[Mo Rush]

Originally Posted by juzzy

im just relaying the info. I have mentioned that to the person invloved...it is the 2011/2012 operating plan though, 2012 is still a while away

Join the "shoot the messenger" club.

[evanb]

Originally Posted by Mo Rush

I could be wrong, but I've heard that for some reason there is now pressure on CTIA to deliver space for the A380?

I can't see that there is such demand that in the next 3 years, an "expansion" for an A380 is critical?

I am not sure where the pressure is coming from. Emirates is the only likely operator into Cape Town. BA reduce capacity in the winter and when they run a second daily flight in the summer it is on a 777-200. The other operators into Cape Town which have have A380 are Lufthansa which are only seasonal and Singapore which are only three times per week and via Joburg for most of the year. In terms of those who are still getting A380, Virgin are still seasonal, Malaysia is twice a week and Qatar still go via Joburg ... so I don't think any of them are putting pressure on ACSA! Once it was decided to build KSIA any plans for making Cape Town A380 ready were scrapped since Durban is a closer and better alternate to Joburg and the cost of making a new build airport A380 ready was much lower than making an existing airport A380 ready.

If Emirates really want a capacity increase into Cape Town they can reduce Joburg from three flights per day to two by switching them to A380 and adding a second daily frequency to Cape Town instead!

[mike2005]

Guys do any of you know if SAA are now running the new Airbus aircraft to London from Cape Town or are they still running the disgraceful old crates (with no inflight entertainment etc) that they have been using on the Cape Town route since the 747's were withdrawn? Pondering booking a friend on an SAA flight to Cape Town but I don’t want them to have to put up with one of the old Airbuses as they are an embarrassment to South Africa.

[Mo Rush]

I might have been mising the trend but a few airlines seemed to have joined up or merged recently. Iberia was taken over right? and KLM/Air France are basically together too? And I think I also heard some American Airline merging with another.

[evanb]

Originally Posted by mike2005

Guys do any of you know if SAA are now running the new Airbus aircraft to London from Cape Town or are they still running the disgraceful old crates (with no inflight entertainment etc) that they have been using on the Cape Town route since the 747's were withdrawn? Pondering booking a friend on an SAA flight to Cape Town but I don’t want them to have to put up with one of the old Airbuses as they are an embarrassment to South Africa.

Not quite yet. SA will operate the brand new A330 daily on Cape Town-London from February 28 onward!

The first aircraft will arrive in January and will run Joburg-Lagos daily from 1 Feb to 27 Feb and only once the second aircraft arrives in February will it run Cape Town-London (since they require two aircraft to run this route daily).

[evanb]

Originally Posted by Mo Rush

I might have been mising the trend but a few airlines seemed to have joined up or merged recently. Iberia was taken over right? and KLM/Air France are basically together too? And I think I also heard some American Airline merging with another.

BA and Iberia (will maintain separate brands)
Air France and KLM (will maintain separate brands)

In the US:
Delta and Northwestern (now operating under the Delta brand only)
United and Continental (will operate under the United brand only in the future)
Southwest and AirTran (will operate under the Southwest brand only in the future)

[Mo Rush]

Flying Air France/KLM next week.

[dysan1]

And even with these new planes saa still do not offer dbn london

[evanb]

Originally Posted by dysan1

And even with these new planes saa still do not offer dbn london

Give it some time :-) These aircraft are not for expansion but to replace old aircraft. There is some talk that they might hang onto the A340-200s and refurbish them. If that happens Durban-London is a certainty!

[SA BOY]

Mike just fly them through Emirates both sectors will be 773er

[joburg]

From airlineroute.net...
http://airlineroute.net/2010/12/14/sa-330-update3

South African Airways Planned Airbus A330-200 Routes: Update 3
from AIRLINE ROUTE UPDATES by jimyvr

As per GDS timetable display on 14DEC10, South African Airways to operate new Airbus A330-200 aircraft on additional routes, including Buenos Aires, Mumbai and Sao Paulo. However, planned A330-200 service entry dates and routes has been modified. Per latest plan, A330-200 is to enter service on Johannesburg – London Heathrow on 20FEB11.

Latest planned Airbus A330-200 operational routes as follows, note these routes will see further adjustments as usual:

Johannesburg – Accra
03MAY11 – 24MAY11 Day 2
05JUL11 – 26JUL11 Day 2
20SEP11
31OCT11 – Day 14

Johannesburg – Buenos Aires
20MAR11
01MAY11 – 31MAY11 Day 3
06JUL11 – 27JUL11 Day 3
04NOV11 – 25NOV11 Day 5

Johannesburg – Cape Town SA333/346
23MAR11 – 03APR11 Day 3
04APR11 – Day 13

Johannesburg – London Heathrow SA236/237, LHR departs following day
20FEB11 – 27FEB11 Day 267
28FEB11 – 06MAR11 Day 13
07MAR11 – 13MAR11 Day 26
14MAR11 – 20MAR11 Day 357
21MAR11 – Daily

Johannesburg – Mumbai (BOM departs following day)
22SEP11 – 29OCT11 Day 246
01NOV11 – 30NOV11 Day 26

Johannesburg – Sao Paulo SA224/225 (operating 4 times a week)
21SEP11 – 28OCT11 Day x246
30OCT11 – 30NOV11 Day 37

Cape Town – London Heathrow (LHR departs the following day)
16MAY11 – 22MAY11 Day 5
23MAY11 – 29MAY11 Day 247
30MAY11 – 19JUN11 Day x246
21JUN11
23JUN11 – 06JUL11 Day x257
07JUL11 – 18JUL11 Day x136
19JUL11 – Daily

Planned A330 service to Lagos, is canceled. Munich was once on the plan to be operated by 332, but removed shortly.

Above specifically mentioned operational period and days are subject to change. Please contact the airline directly for final confirmation prior to travel.

Planned Airbus A330-200 configuration as follows. Note this was previously posted on 02SEP10

Airbus A330-200 C36Y186
Business Class 36 Seats
Rows 1-6
Layout AC-DG-HK
Wings Section Row 5 – 6
Galley and Lavatory located between Row 3 and 4

Economy Class 186 Seats
Rows 45 – 68
Layout AC – DEFG – HK
Wings Section Row 45 – 54
Exit Row 55
Lavatory located between Row 54 and 55 and rear of aircraft
Exception
Row 65 – 67: AC – DFG – HK
Row 68: DEF – HK
Bassinet Seat 45 C/D/G/H

[SA BOY]

whos planes were these before SAA took them over? Any pics of the cabins? what sort of business class product is it?

[joburg]

As far as I know, they're new from Airbus and are being leased from another company. That means I'm sure they'll have SAAs new economy class and business product (the ones existing on the A340-600). I've also heard they are intended to replace the A340-200s that everyone moans about?

[Durbsboi]

Breaking News : Helicopter Crashes in Ballito

15th December 2010 | A helicopter, which is part of a national security enforcement drive, crashed just outside Leguna Seca Industrial Park in Ballito. The details related to the crash are still emerging and service staff on scene have been instructed not to discuss details with the media and capturing of photo’s by the media is “highly discouraged”.

In a brief discussion with one of the staff assessing damage, it seems as if there was a technical failure with the helicopter that resulted in an emergency landing. The drop, distance wise is not known, but its was high enough to injure the pilots involved, who have already been taken care of by emergency services.

As details become more known we will post them.

[juzzy]

Originally Posted by joburg

As far as I know, they're new from Airbus and are being leased from another company. That means I'm sure they'll have SAAs new economy class and business product (the ones existing on the A340-600). I've also heard they are intended to replace the A340-200s that everyone moans about?

from what i have heard, there will be a new economy class cabin(even though SAA has one of the best Eco seats and pitch) with better AVOD, and that the A340-200 might be kept for growth of new routes.

with regard to a DUR-LHR route, SAA will never open that route simply because they make more money from the DUR-JNB leg add on. if the route was so lucrative and attractive then why havnt BA or Virgin climbed on board.im all thumbs up for the route but money talks and so does logic. Once emirates brings the 777-300ER on the durban route i will fly Emirates for all my flights

[juzzy]

Originally Posted by SA BOY

whos planes were these before SAA took them over? Any pics of the cabins? what sort of business class product is it?

Brand spanking new aircraft, leased

from the guys at avcom, pic of first A330 tail in Toulouse

[Durbsboi]

sexy...

[dysan1]

Originally Posted by SA BOY

Mike just fly them through Emirates both sectors will be 773er

I've done it with emirates three times and will never do it again. The durban dubai plane is crap, the journey way too long and emirates always have delays!