WHILE SAA has yet to reveal
which routes it plans to
cut, the carrier last month
confirmed that it would
introduce network changes
on the domestic and regional
segments of its route network.
The airline said the changes
would see the introduction of
its airline partners to ensure
that no SAA customers would
have their flight services
interrupted. The changes
related to the replacement of
SAA’s own metal service on
certain routes and not total
withdrawal, the carrier said in a
statement.
TNW understands that Airlink
is in talks with SAA to take
over some of the services.
“Airlink has applied for the
rights to fly several routes
that SAA will most likely no
longer be operating,” Airlink
md and ceo, Rodger Foster,
said. Johannesburg-Brazzaville
route is one such route. “In
all probability, Airlink will be
providing the services to
Brazzaville in the near future,”
said Rodger.
“There are several other
destinations – particularly in
central and West Africa – that
Airlink could operate in terms
of our franchise relationship
with SAA,” Rodger confirmed.
SAA will also reduce its
Eastern Cape flights, with
Mango to step in. Mango gm
commercial, Pumla Luhabe,
said: “Mango is a subsidiary
of SAA and has been
approached to step in and
fill the gap when SAA curtails
capacity.” No implementation
date has been confirmed.
