Singapore_Air From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2000, 13711 posts, RR: 21 Posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 5565 times:
South African Airways has chosen Star Alliance - The Airline Network For Earth - as its foreign global partner.
Confirmed by SAA sources, it aims to join in 2004 with the approval of Star Alliance airlines seen as a formality.
" "But the pros vastly outweigh the cons. Chief among these would be access to global corporate accounts and Star's company contracts.
A spokesman for Star alliance, the biggest in the world, admitted in an interview with Business Times last year that the alliance was actively wooing SAA, not least of all because of its overwhelming presence in Africa, where Star has less influence than its competitor Sky Team. Sky Team members include KLM and Air France, both active in Africa." "
Star Alliance comprises 14 members - of which Singapore Airlines Limited is one of them.
Myk From Canada, joined Jul 1999, 455 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 5316 times:
This would be great news. Star's network in Africa is far below the Skyteam network. So it would be really great news ! Especially that Skyteam was looking for SAA to join their alliance.
Are there some other links to german or other newspapers writing about the SAA / Star alliance ?
Eddieho From Canada, joined Jan 2004, 228 posts, RR: 2 Reply 9, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 5158 times:
I guess its more of a reason of accessibility is why they joined Star Alliance.
Star Alliance - opens to American markets (United), Asia (ANA and Sinapore), Europe (Lufthansa), Canada (Air Canada) , Australia (Air new zealand), Britain (bmi) and countless others!
Now Star Alliance truly covers all continents except for Antarctica (unless u consider chartered flights?) :P
Good job... I'm very pleased to hear that as a regular SAA flyer.
Cjuniel From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 146 posts, RR: 1 Reply 13, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 5066 times:
It will be interesting to see how this plays out as far as O'Hare or Dulles. I would probably give Dulles the upper hand as they have been aggressively pursuing foreign flag carriers as of late. Further that allows United and SAA to maximize the number of passengers on the flight since Dulles is on the east coast. While SAA does also have a flight from JFK, there is enough O&D traffic for that flight to operate as a standalone.
Rojo From Spain, joined Sep 2000, 2395 posts, RR: 10 Reply 14, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 5007 times:
Hope SA does well on Star, but I also think that Star is indeed getting crowded. There are some overlapping of destinations and two airlines are competing in the same region (TG and SQ for example)... I can say that SA will fill a gap in Star, so I don't think they will face problems of cross competition within the alliance, but I would have expected SA to stay out of alliances and benefit from bilateral agreements with airlines in different alliances (LH and DL in this case). I do think that choosing the best airlines in each market to codeshare is the way to go for some airlines, since not every airline in one alliance is strong in the places you need them to be strong. MX is the biggest example of an airline where the alliance didn't give them the expected benefits... the result, they are the first airline to drop an alliance without going bankrupt of being merged.
I know that MX was not getting the revenue they expected from UA's codeshare. UA is so weak in the Mexican market (a huge market for a Mexican airline) that it doesn't matter how strong the other Star partners are, it was not worth staying as a Star member... better to close a deal with LH and AC to stay as a partner and work with stronger partners (AA).
Yanksn4 From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 1392 posts, RR: 13 Reply 15, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 4996 times:
Should the leaders of Star Alliance consider dropping an airline? I mean, I have to agree it is getting crowded, and would dropping say Thai Airways help it become more efficent?
Essjay From South Africa, joined Dec 2000, 75 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 4938 times:
I was quite surprised when I read the article in the newspaper today...I thought SAA was leaning towards Skyteam.
As already mentioned, I guess this means goodbye to Delta (which I am not sad about), and no doubt Cathay Pacific too...makes you wonder why SAA bothered making Cathay a full Voyager member recently?
I still maintain SAA doesn't need any alliance, but I think Star is a good choice.
Anxebla From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 17, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 4937 times:
I think SA is making a mistake for join to Star.Like people say here,Star have many airlines members.For this way,half IATA will be Star Alliance.
BTW,hahahaha Have you read The Sunday Times of SouthAfrica about this issue? ....
"...SAA will have to relinquish partnerships it has with carriers that are members of competing alliances,for instance DL in the US,a member of the FRENCH alliance Sky Team" hahahaha.... SkyTeam is French What's your opinion,Rojo?
Other VERY GOOD
"Sky Team members include KLM and Air France"
AH! Journalists...They always keep inform to the world's peoples.
Lfutia From Netherlands, joined Dec 2002, 3195 posts, RR: 31 Reply 18, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 4858 times:
w00t! It would be nice to see South African in SA - Illinois">ORD! Although its a helluva ride from SA - Illinois">ORD-CPT/JNB or they will stop over in Ilha do Sal or something. SA - Virginia">IAD -- yes they do need more foreign carriers and it is closer to CPT/JNB. Maybe SA will get 5th freedom and be able to op SA - Illinois">ORD-SA - California">SFO?
I would love to see what will unfold during the year about this.
Leo/ORD -- Groetjes uit de VS! -- Heeft u laatst nog met KLM gevlogen?
ZASpringboks From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 21, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 4797 times:
This is depressing news. I've come to appreciate and love the South African passengers we encounter when they choose to fly Delta Airlines. It will be very sad news when I learn that my pass benefits on SAA will be taken away.
What is going on with Delta these days? Where is the strength? What does Skyteam have to look forward too? Aeroflot? Great! Grand! Wonderful!
Eddieho From Canada, joined Jan 2004, 228 posts, RR: 2 Reply 22, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 4712 times:
It really shows you on how the economy works - people don't care about others and they only work towards benefitting themselves.
Come to think of it, SAA isn't really benefitting that much from Cathay Pacific. Yes, SAA should still fly direct to HKG, but with Singapore Airlines they can serve all across Asia. Don't forget that Cathay Pacific are rivals with SAA in some ways (Australian flights) etc. And when SAA starts going into China then it becomes even more interesting.
Copenhagenboy From Denmark, joined Sep 2001, 589 posts, RR: 1 Reply 23, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 4631 times:
Even if you have problems with Aeroflot I think they are going into STAR
If it is for sure great news for STAR, the most airlines they are cooperation with is already in STAR
Bicoastal From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 24, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 4579 times:
What's this about Star being crowded? As someone who actually flies on a number of the members each year, I have no complaints. Asia is a huge market and there's plenty of business for Thai, Singapore, ANA and Asiana. If you think Star is crowded in that area, you've never been there and seen the dense population, thriving business climate and tons of demand for air travel. And in Europe, the many Star members are making their schedules mesh and complement each other to the BENEFIT of frequent travelers. Those of you who think it's crowded in STAR likely don't fly much.
And for those of you who don't think a "crowded" alliance is efficient. Sorry, but again, as someone who actually uses a number of the carriers each year, STAR is extremely efficient. Baggage, frequent flyer recognition, schedules, airline clubs....all are handled extremely well by STAR members to the great benefit of users like me.
Great to have SAA on board and there's plenty of business for it. Can't wait until they start flying to Dulles or Chicago!
[Edited 2004-03-01 01:28:21]
25 TBCITDG: They can also kiss good bye to their code share agreements with QF out of SYD and PER. Do they code share with BA from flights to/fro LHR and within A
27 ZASpringboks: Even if you have problems with Aeroflot I think they are going into STAR If it is for sure great news for STAR, the most airlines they are cooperation
28 Marara: just because SAA seem to have chosen the Star Alliace it doesnt mean they will drop their relationships with non star airlines. QF still has relations
29 FA4UA: My bet is they'll go to IAD. It's 300 less miles then ATL, while ORD is 300 more miles then ATL. SAA, WELCOME TO THE STAR ALLIANCE! And I do look forw
30 Andz: ID95s? You'll be lucky, staff only get ID90! (After 4 ID00 of course)
31 FA4UA: we get ID-95's on all Star Carriers, even US Air who's not even officially part of the family. I assume things will be the same with SAA too. We even
32 KEno: With SAA joining Star, which other african airlines that's left for Oneworld & Skyteam? I'm not looking down on other carriers, it's just that SAA is
33 Aviasian: Kenya Airways is partly owned by KLM which is owned by Air France . . . doesn't this naturally mean that Kenya Airways will go to Skyteam? KC Sim Bang
34 Copenhagenboy: Aeroflot already says they tend to join Skyteam if that's what you we're talking about. ---------------- Sure and I know it is of the topic, but in th
35 Fralim: I also heard about these news on german media, so I asked a friend of mine who works for SAA and he told me that it is only rumours... He told me that
36 BMIFlyer: Great News Im glad SAA chose star, that will please my FA friend from BMI who told me that there was a rumour starting of them starting a MAN - JNB se
37 JGPH1A: Good for SAA, its a logical choice, and it doesn't mean they necessarily have to end cooperation agreements with non-Star carriers (although I imagine
38 United4ever: "as much as i enjoy SA joing Star, the club is getting pretty crowded, don´t you think?" No, not at all. I think Star needs a quality African airline
39 KEno: If for some reason Star management feels that their alliance is getting overcrowded, they would probably kick out some other partners but welcome SAA
40 Gigneil: I'm sure this will mean the discontinuation of the ATL service. What I'm unsure on is the rectified East Coast service. Obviously, JFK can sustain its
42 PA110: Moolies, ID95 - Industry Discount 95%, ID90 - Industry Discount 90%. These are airline/travel industry discount airline tickets.
43 Moolies: oh thanks i see. the saa staff i belive get so many free tickets per year on saa.
44 Gigneil: I was mistaken. While MIA and FLL are closer to CPT, JFK and BOS are both closer to JNB. N
45 Eddieho: What are other requirements when joining Star Alliance? Would SAA have to change, add, or improve some of their services to be consistent with other a
46 PA110: Eddieho, I don't think you can look to the Alliance for improvments to standards or service improvements. As airlines go, SAA already has higher stand
47 Anxebla: I think SA could be happier in OW or in the "french" SkyTeam
48 Sydscott: It will be interesting to see what happens on the Johannesburg-Perth and Sydney-Johannesburg flights. Currently SAA flies to Perth and QF to Sydney a
49 PA110: Sydscott, there's no reason to believe that QF & SA will terminate their agreement. Many airlines maintain agreements outside their alliances. The QF/
50 FLYACYYZ: In joining STAR, I would wager that SAA's days serving ATL are numbered. Based on connection opportunities, and optimum non-stop routings it looks lik
51 PA110: FLYACYYZ, My guess is that they could fly ORD or even YYZ via DKR or SAL. The danger with DKR would be too strong a demand for the intermediate stop a
52 StarGoldLHR: finally the prospect of true alliance competition from LHR to South Africa... All I want now is LH to establlish a hub at LHR and have a Star Alliance
53 Anxebla: PA110: I don't be nationalist at all.I believe Star is a good alliance,but they crowded,with many airlines members inside (and this opinion is not onl
54 PA110: Actually Delta/SAA works well for Delta but not necessarily for SAA. Delta has given SA very poor pro-rate agreements which have made it very costly f
55 Sydscott: PA110 - I think its inevitable that SAA will end their agreement with QF once their entry into Star is cemented. Given the regional rivalries between
56 767er: SydScott Yes, I agree that I cannot see QF continuing their code share agreement on SYD PER JNB. Though I disagree that SAA would fly SYD AKL SYD. The
57 ORDnDFW777: Should South African Airways join Star, any move from ATL to ORD or IAD would still require a fuel stop in SID on the South Africa to US trip. There a
58 Eddieho: Many people on this board talks about SAA cancelling or stopping outside agreements after joining an alliance. Has there been examples of airlines joi
59 Eddieho: And looking at Star Alliance's screensaver and analyzing it, it does seem that Africa is a bit empty / underserved. Otherwise, everywhere else is cove
60 Sydscott: 767 - thats why I said they could replace an ANZ 767 service with a codeshare one using SAA's aircraft. That way there would be no real capacity incr
61 MAH4546: The other confusing topic is the *A terminal at MIA. MIA is clearly the closest airport in the continental States to South Africa, but with UA retrenc
62 AznCsa4qf744er: SAA made a good decision with choosing Star Alliance. They are great, more services, and less expenses to deal with. It's a good thing SAA didn't join
63 Andz: ORDnDFW777: Do you think there is a need to stop over in SID from ORD to JNB with a 346? The only reason that SID is used by SAA on flights to the US
64 Johnnybgoode: i really do think that Star is the best choice for SAA. i believe LH can be called one, if not, the closest partner of LH, especially in Europe. i kno
65 JGPH1A: Johnnybgoode - re "i doubt that Star would force SA to severe ties with QF. granted, SQ might dislike it." Maybe SQ won't like it, but SQ right now is
66 Copenhagenboy: JGPH1A Sure, if there are any more problems with SQ, just ask them to leave, they wont be missed. I don't like their "nose in the sky" attitude. That
67 Andz: SAA has codeshare partnerships with the following airlines: Air Tanzania BMI Delta El Al Emirates Lufthansa Qantas SAS Thai Varig There is also a code
68 JGPH1A: So from the list, it looks like the majority are already Star carriers Air Tanzania - SA subsidiary - likely to come to Star with SA BMI - Star Delta
69 Anxebla: El Al will be bought by LH???? Really??? When???
70 Eddieho: So it does seem like SAA would REALLY benefit from Star after all... looking at all the airlines! (Even the map shows so) I thought Cathay Pacific als
71 Sydscott: Realistically Thai is the weaker South East Asian airline in Star rather than SQ. Changi is a much larger hub than Bangkok but QF has a substantial o
72 Anxebla: Do SQ are not happy in Star or Star aren't happy with SQ? I've heard many rumours about this issue.
73 DeltaMIA: As for industry discounts currently Delta employees are entitled to free travel on all SAA Code shared flights including the JFK and ATL services. It
74 Andz: Eddieho you are right, Cathay is a codeshare partner as well, I apologise for the omission.
75 Johnnybgoode: there´s lots of rumors on anything, and i wouldn´t put much weight on any rumors concerning SQ and Star. according to recent issues of Airline Busin
76 AirGabon: It's not important for SkyTeam because AF has a very strong and profitable network in West and Central Africa. When KLM will join SkyTeam they've a lo
77 Flymunich: Any chance to see SAA at Munich Airport (star alliance hub) in the near future?
78 ZSSNC: Flymunich, SAA mentioned MUC as a possible destination in their fleet renewal plan a while back. However, I really doubt that it will happen. LH is se
79 Eddieho: Here is some articles that shows that SAA has applied to join Star alliance... http://biz.yahoo.com/djus/040304/1014000689_2.html http://news.airwise.
80 Eddieho: It actually even says on the article that SAA will stop their bilateral alliances slowly! "SAA said once it joined the alliance, it would gradually do
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