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http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/south-african-airways-looking-at-flights-to-new-delhi-chennai--bengaluru-15678

South African Airways looking at flights to New Delhi, Chennai & Bengaluru

February 16, 2012

South African Airways (SAA) is looking at increasing connectivity beyond Mumbai to other metros in India such as Delhi, Chennai and Bengaluru. Depending on demand, we will also look to increase frequency in Mumbai. This was disclosed by Gcobani Mangcotywa, Regional Manager-Asia Pacific Region, South African Airways who said that the focus of the airline is on emerging markets of India and China. South African Airways currently operates four flights weekly, between Mumbai and Johannesburg.

“Our major focus will be on the Asia-Pacific region and Africa. That's where we are seeing the most growth and we are witnessing a shift in numbers from US and Europe to the Asia-Pacific and Africa. The three key markets for both South African Airways and South Africa Tourism over the next three to five years will be India, China and Australia because we believe they have the highest growth potential,” stated Mangcotywa during an interaction with the press yesterday in Mumbai to announce the appointment of Sajid Khan as Country Manager-India. Talking about the appointment, Mangcotywa said, “The appointment of Sajid Khan is an assurance of our long-term commitment to India and we are here to stay.”

South Africa recently launched three weekly frequencies between Johannesburg and Beijing. “The introduction of aviation links between the two countries is a significant achievement for us. We are also looking at launching flights to Shanghai,” informed Mangcotywa.
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The_Goat · Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 7:52 pm Post subject:

A three to four weekly flight to MAA will do very well, IMO. There is a lot of cultural, business and tourist traffic between South India and the Durban area.
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iah87 · Member Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2566

If it is 3 or 4 times a week, it will be probably be via BLR or something similar. I doubt if MAA can sustain more than 2 times a week by itself.

ameya · Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 9:12 am Post subject:

Can SAA connect with SQ at BLR ?

However during that period, BLR has extreme congestion.

I am not sure if aerobridge is available or not

Nimish · Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 9:57 am Post subject:

Spiderguy252 · Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 10:09 am Post subject:

Jaysit · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346

And herein lies the problem of India not having a single carrier that's part of a major alliance.

jasepl · Member Joined: 26 Jul 2008 Posts: 4257 Location: bund-bay

me111993 · Member Joined: 04 Sep 2009 Posts: 3225 Location: MAA/AMD

do they even do well out of BOM? All they're stating is that they see potential in India.

EK's SouthAfrican presence is fantastic, maybe they should just focus on developing BOM and leave the rest to codeshares.

If the govt approved of SAA carrying 5th freedom traffic from/to India (0% chance of that happening), maybe they can consider a JNB-BLR/MAA-NRT.
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jasepl · Member Joined: 26 Jul 2008 Posts: 4257 Location: bund-bay

From what I remember reading some time ago, they're doing fine out of BOM.

The O&D traffic, plus connections to southern Africa and GRU / EZE help ensure its continuity.

As for any fifth-freedom, who knows, they might already have the rights. Still doesn't make sense to exercise them.

And this article, I suspect, is just like all of the others we've seen before. Different airline-city combination. Same silly outcome.
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me111993 · Member Joined: 04 Sep 2009 Posts: 3225 Location: MAA/AMD

They can't even consider anyother place than DEL, and JNB-DEL won't be more than a 4W operation, I still believe they should focus on BOM, atleast make it a daily operation, that'll give them more advantage over 9W.
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Causal Determinism : We are hardwired to need answers. The Caveman who heard a rustle in the bushes and checked out to see what it was, lived longer than the guy, who assumed it was just a breeze.

- Greg House

Spiderguy252 · Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 1:43 pm Post subject:

They haven't pulled out of BOM after the alleged initial rumour that they would, when 9W began flying there. So you would have to assume that they're holding their own, if not flourishing, in India. They've also upgauged the 342 to the 343.

9W on the other hand has been the one reducing frequencies from the seven weekly at the start to 5 (?) now.
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me111993 · Member Joined: 04 Sep 2009 Posts: 3225 Location: MAA/AMD

SA is a 4W A332 service, 9W is a 5W A332 service.
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Causal Determinism : We are hardwired to need answers. The Caveman who heard a rustle in the bushes and checked out to see what it was, lived longer than the guy, who assumed it was just a breeze.

- Greg House

jasepl · Member Joined: 26 Jul 2008 Posts: 4257 Location: bund-bay

Didn't Jet and SAA make some sort of co-operation announcement soon after Jet started the Johannesburg flights?

In any event, Jet should't have started Johannesburg as a daily operation. I don't think they've ever started a single international destination with a less-than-daily frequency (except Dammam or Riyadh or some such, but that wasn't by choice).

There's nothing wrong with anything between three and five weekly; it is often more prudent.

On the face of it, Jet appear to be the poorer performers, seeing how JNB and MXP are their two flights with plenty of open award inventory, when nearly everything else has been blocked off for perpetuity. They could maybe see if they can fly on the 2-3 of the days SAA don't.

As for SAA, they went from 342 to 343 to the new 332s. And I concur: stick with BOM. The market from the rest of the country isn't worth going after for SAA. Whatever little there is, Emirates Jindabad.

And there is zero case for non-stop flights between India and Durban. Hell, for get long-haul, I think the only remaining international flight from Durban is to... wait for it.... Dubai.
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B747-437B · Member Joined: 23 Aug 2011 Posts: 14 Location: Exile

indopaki · Member Joined: 23 Jul 2007 Posts: 479 Location: Pakistan

Wiki shows Maputo by Airlink.

jasepl · Member Joined: 26 Jul 2008 Posts: 4257 Location: bund-bay

Looks like I was wrong, though Manzini and Maputo are hardly revolutionary stuff.

When Durban can't even support the basics of London, Nairobi or Frankfurt, India is a faraway fantasy.
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indopaki · Member Joined: 23 Jul 2007 Posts: 479 Location: Pakistan

Also Royal Air Maroc rumored future destination BOM according to a post at a.net.