MADE possible by its fleet upgrade, South African Airways has prioritised the increase of frequencies on existing domestic and regional route networks, as well as the enhancement of on-time departures dependent on aircraft maintenance readiness.
At a press conference held on March 1, to announce SAA's decision to obtain 21 Boeing 737-800 aircraft (11 purchased, 10 leased), Andrews Andrews, SAA ceo and president, said the carrier hoped to have shuttle services every 30 minutes on major domestic routes, where no prior reservations would be needed.
With regard to services throughout Southern, West and East Africa, Coleman planned to have near daily frequencies connecting main markets with Johannesburg and the rest of the world.
He said it would take 16 months from May to acquire the new craft and phase out the older fleet members, increasing frequencies along the way.
The selling point of the Boeing 737-800 were its winglets, aerodynamic sails at the end of the wings, which enabled a 4% block fuel improvement on long-range missions as well as a 1,75kg additional takeoff weight out of Johannesburg. SAA would be able to operate the aircraft with full passenger payloads to distant West African destinations such as Lagos and Accra, with 20 extra passengers.
Andrews said with the new CFM 56 engines, the carrier would be able to partially offset the effects of fuel hikes which threatened to cost SAA over R500m more this year than last.
Each aircraft will seat 157 passengers in a mixed business and economy configuration, and SAA holds options for 20 more aircraft which can be delivered as 737-800 models or as larger 175-seat 737-900 or 125-seat 737-700 models.
As the end of the current financial year approaches, SAA expects to achieve an operating profit in excess of R570m. The result is a dramatic turnaround from the previous year's result of a R130m operating loss.
(Kim Cohrane)
