Zvezda From Lithuania, joined Aug 2004, 10511 posts, RR: 66 Reply 1, posted (8 years 5 months 10 hours ago) and read 1750 times:
I couldn't find the article, but this is surely in preparation for joining Star Alliance to take advantage of SA)">UA's hub at IAD. Expect to see SA)">UA metal into IAD tagged with SA codeshare flight numbers.
At502B From South Africa, joined Dec 2004, 347 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (8 years 5 months 10 hours ago) and read 1598 times:
I can't wait for them to fly from IAD-JNB- Makes it a lot easier for me to accrue Star Alliance miles instead of having to go through FRA.
Now all they need is more room in Economy and I'll be really happy! Any word on if they will ever have an economy plus(SAA) on their Airbus?
Yanksn4 From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 1392 posts, RR: 13 Reply 7, posted (8 years 5 months 10 hours ago) and read 1549 times:
Does anyone know what kind of passenger levels SAA was experiencing on the flight to ATL? Also, are any of the flights to the United States non-stop or do they stop somewhere in Africa? Thanks
ConcordeBoy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (8 years 5 months 9 hours ago) and read 1520 times:
Also, are any of the flights to the United States non-stop or do they stop somewhere in Africa?
Nope.
They stop in either Dakar or Ilha do Sal.
I hope SA isn't disappointed with the results of this. The IAD hub is a small fraction of the power of Delta's presence at ATL.
No joke. It's also quite close to their NYC operation (another place UA can't really help them), but I don't think that really matters all too much in the grand scheme.
UA744KSFO From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (8 years 5 months 9 hours ago) and read 1503 times:
Some of the JFK flights go non-stop to JNB (only the ones operated with a 744), but going to JFK, they all stop for fuel in DKR (as do the ones operated with the 346 in both directions).
All of the ATL flights stop for fuel at SID (Sal, Cape Verde Islands) in both directions.
I would imagine that the same arrangement with the ATL flights will apply to the IAD flights once they begin.
FoxBravo From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 2801 posts, RR: 5 Reply 12, posted (8 years 5 months 9 hours ago) and read 1488 times:
I would imagine that the same arrangement with the ATL flights will apply to the IAD flights once they begin.
Actually, with IAD they might be able to operate like the JFK flights (and formerly the ATL flights, with the 744), i.e., nonstop to JNB but tech stop on the return--at least during the northern winter. IAD is 300 miles closer to JNB than ATL is, and I believe the airport is at a slightly lower elevation, so that might make enough of a difference.
Then again, with the disappointing performance of the A346, who knows. I'm not trying to start an A v. B debate here, and I have nothing against Airbus in general--they build many excellent aircraft. But it seems a shame to me that the new pride of the SAA fleet hasn't been able to match the performance of the aircraft it has replaced on these routes. Just my two cents.
Gigneil From United States of America, joined Nov 2002, 16215 posts, RR: 89 Reply 13, posted (8 years 5 months 9 hours ago) and read 1467 times:
Your two cents are flawed. Please don't say anything about stuff you don't know anything about. Its the number one problem with this forum.
The A340-600 has such a huge cargo uptake potential versus the 747-400 that SA has decided it more cost to make a fuel stop in both directions rather than leave valuable cargo on the ramp.
The A340-600 has exceeded SA's expectations in EVERY WAY POSSIBLE. The only people who are disappointed with it are here on this forum.
ConcordeBoy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (8 years 5 months 7 hours ago) and read 1316 times:
The A340-600 has such a huge cargo uptake potential versus the 747-400 that SA has decided it more cost to make a fuel stop in both directions rather than leave valuable cargo on the ramp
A flawed statement in and of itself:
First off, true the A346 has greater cargo volume than the 744, but its payload uplift capability is not "such a huge potential" vis-a-vis the Boeing at all.
Secondly, SA has some of its 744s configured for low-pax/medium-cargo uplift out of the states... some less than 340 seats.
And thirdly, SA has decided that it costs less to make a fuel stop in both directions rather than leave valuable cargo.
FoxBravo From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 2801 posts, RR: 5 Reply 16, posted (8 years 5 months 6 hours ago) and read 1265 times:
Please don't say anything about stuff you don't know anything about.
Get off your high horse for a minute and reread what I wrote. Where did I claim to know anything about the management decisions of SAA, or about cargo capabilities of the A340 vs. the 747?
My feeble mind does know a few things, though. For example, that (a) the 747s were going nonstop for years, (b) now the A346 can't, (c) from a passenger's perspective, that middle-of-the-night fuel stop at Sal Island is not fun, and (d) doing it in both directions is even worse.
So, no matter how much money they make from cargo (which generally doesn't mind tech stops, I might add), it doesn't change the fact that this is a setback in passenger comfort and convenience, and given the fanfare with which SAA advertised their new A346 (they even hinted at one point that it would operate nonstop in BOTH directions!), I think it's fair to call this at least a bit "disappointing." That's all--nothing more, nothing less.
Now, back to the original topic. In particular, I am very interested to know if SAA is planning to fly nonstop from IAD to JNB. If not, would they operate via SID (like the ATL flights)? Or perhaps DKR (like the JFK flights)? Or maybe somewhere else entirely, like ACC or LOS?
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