CRGsFuture From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 536 posts, RR: 0 Posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 2152 times:
Hey all, with the World Cup in 06 fast approaching I thought it would be a rather important question to ask especially seeing most people will be planning their itneraries early. Will the World Cup force SA to rethink non-stop possibilities from the US or will all of us meaning US fans if we qualify be forced to go through Senegal or LHR on flights lasting 16 hours+ when it comes to total time needed for travel? Or will SA get smart by then and just go non-stop direct?
Flying you to your destination; your girlfriend to her dreams.
Kiwiandrew From New Zealand, joined Jun 2005, 8435 posts, RR: 14 Reply 1, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 2145 times:
I think people overestimate the longterm impact of sporting events - the World Cup usually lasts around a month - so you will probably see a number of supplemental flights between South Africa and various football playing nations , but nothing that is going to change long term scheduled services
( and remember that football with 'the round ball' is not that big a game in the US anyway - how many US fans will actually go to the World Cup in SA )
Moderation in all things ... including moderation ;-)
I'm sure SA would like to go nonstop now, but the length of the route is marginal in terms of flight ops to get an economic payload on those routes.
This is written with a cheeky smile on my face, but as mentioned, the countries of North America are not renown for their soccer support. Why should SA sell seats to North American travellers who might not be going to the World Cup, thus limiting availability to African soccer-crazy on these routes?
I think that SA will chose which of these two markets is more profitable at the time when it comes to World Cup flight planning.
LouA340 From Canada, joined Oct 2005, 376 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 2042 times:
Quoting Kiwiandrew (Reply 1): and remember that football with 'the round ball' is not that big a game in the US anyway - how many US fans will actually go to the World Cup in SA
Comming from a country where its called football and not soccer, its always a laugh when me and friends argue about "football" and "soccer".
My guess is that airlines would probably increase frequencies and shift schedules for the period of the world cup, but I dont see it becomming permanent. I was wondering somthing similar to this for the World Cup in Germany, since 3 neighbouring West african nations have all qualified and at the moment Lufthansa is the only german carrier that links the area through LOS and ACC with a A333. Would we possibly see bigger aircrafts deployed during that month? Because LH is usually fully booked in a normal summer without the extra travel because of the World Cup.
MAH4546 From Sweden, joined Jan 2001, 31118 posts, RR: 73 Reply 4, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 2019 times:
You are overestimating the effect of the World Cup. While SAA may go non-stop again in the future, it will have nothing to do with the World Cup. Not to mention, there are only a handful of pockets in the US where soccer is remotely popular (Los Angeles, Chicago, South Florida, and other markets with large European or Latin communities), and even there its appeal is limited.
SAA might return non-stop to the US soon enough. A final decission on MIA-CPT-JNB should be made by the end of the summer, hopefully.
Venezuela747 From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 1407 posts, RR: 5 Reply 5, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days ago) and read 1931 times:
I hope there will be a lot of options and cheap prices in 2010. I have a friend/brother who has family in Durban, he is down to going with me in 2010 for like 2 weeks. I am looking forward to a 8 hour flight to Europe and then another 10 down south, or just the 30 some hour direct.
Soups From Ghana, joined Jun 2004, 3437 posts, RR: 15 Reply 6, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 1890 times:
Quoting LouA340 (Reply 3): My guess is that airlines would probably increase frequencies and shift schedules for the period of the world cup, but I dont see it becomming permanent. I was wondering somthing similar to this for the World Cup in Germany, since 3 neighbouring West african nations have all qualified and at the moment Lufthansa is the only german carrier that links the area through LOS and ACC with a A333. Would we possibly see bigger aircrafts deployed during that month? Because LH is usually fully booked in a normal summer without the extra travel because of the World Cup.
Charter airlines are operating Accra-Germany for this ocasion i believe LTU is flying the fans from Ghana can anone confirm this?
Next destinations, Suarabaya, beirut, paris, Accra
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