THE trade is growing
concerned about
undersupply and overdemand
on the JNB-PLZ and
JNB-ELS routes over the
festive season following SAA’s
announcement that it will
reduce the number of flights
from four to two a day on the
PLZ route and from three to
two a day to ELS, effective
October 29.
Debbie Joubert, md of
Sure Travel 24-7, says the
undersupply will undoubtedly
be at its worst on December
16 as well as a few days
before and after Christmas
and New Year, the most
popular days for festive
season travel. As a result,
she expects other airlines
that operate these routes will
charge higher fares.
Rachael Penaluna, business
manager of Sure Maritime
Travel, says the PLZ hub is
currently stranded, as most
of its schedules are operated
by SAA and SA Express –
another airline the trade is
concerned about due to its
financial crisis.
“We are battling with
domestic flights connecting
international travellers to Port
Elizabeth as lots of flights
have been cancelled,” says
Rachael. She says she has
a few clients who are due to
leave in the next week but
the return flight has been
cancelled.
David van den HeeverLiebenberg,
travel director of
Marmalade Toast Bespoke
Travel and Destination
Management, has also
experienced problems with
connections as a result of
cancellations. He suggests
that SAA should increase its
staff contingent in the call
centres. “It’s been the most
frustrating part, trying to get
hold of an agent in the call
centre and holding on the
phone for hours, literally to get
one ticket fixed. Remember,
our time equals money.”
In response to the trade’s
concern, June Crawford,
ceo of Barsa, says she is
confident that other domestic
carriers will step into the
breach if the market demands,
adding that initially the fares
may be higher due to the
festive season. Linden Birns,
md of Plane Talking, agrees:
“Over the years, we have
seen airlines withdraw from
domestic routes and the
market entirely. We have even
seen some airlines temporarily
grounded during peak holiday
seasons. Each time, other
airlines have stepped in to
take advantage with their own
capacity and frequencies.”
FlySafair has already taken
advantage by upping flights on
its JNB-ELS route from five to
seven flights a week and on
its JNB-PLZ route from six to
eight flights per week. Flights
on the JNB-ELS route will
further increase to 14 flights
from December 14. With
these additional flights, the
number of seats will rise from
an average of 1 279 to 1 416
per week on the PLZ route and
an average of 934 to 1 213
per week on the ELS route.
Kirby Gordon, vice president
of sales and marketing of
FlySafair, says the airline will
likely add more flights to both
routes as it sees demand
spike.
Susan Van Der Ryst,
corporate communications
manager of Comair, says plans
to increase flights on any
of British Airways or kulula.
com’s routes are commercially
sensitive and will therefore
remain confidential until it is
feasible to announce them.
When asked for the
reasoning behind reducing
flights right ahead of
the festive season, SAA
spokesperson, Tlali Tlali, said
the airline was not oblivious
to the spike in demand that
might arise over the festive
season. “We have options that
will enable us to respond to
this situation and the details
thereof could be announced in
the near future.
