Schedule changes and additions

[evanb]

Yeah Livingston and Victoria falls feels like too much is coming on just from Joburg. Trying to squeeze reach other out... Some casualties to come

Pre-COVID, VFA and LVI both had daily SAA and BA Comair flights. SAA's VFA was operated by A330. So there is an awful lot of capacity to make up.

[northerndbn]

Yeah Livingston and Victoria falls feels like too much is coming on just from Joburg. Trying to squeeze reach other out... Some casualties to come

Pre-COVID, VFA and LVI both had daily SAA and BA Comair flights. SAA's VFA was operated by A330. So there is an awful lot of capacity to make up.

But surely most of those were transiting JNB from Europe? With SAA gone, I'd presume most have gone on other airlines not in SA, and are transmitting there to get to them? It's not all coming back

[evanb]

But surely most of those were transiting JNB from Europe? With SAA gone, I'd presume most have gone on other airlines not in SA, and are transmitting there to get to them? It's not all coming back

I'm not suggesting it is coming back, yet others are speculating/suggesting it's over capacity. I'm just pointing out that capacity is still well below pre-COVID levels.

Pre-COVID, weekly JNB-LVI/VFA was 5712 seats per week. This week I count 3550. Add FlySafair, it'll be 4873. CPT is much the same. The additional 4Y capacity is relative small short season capacity. Correct that much of the traffic is connecting (and European). Probably gives SA and 4Z the biggest advantage.

The interesting thing for me is FlySafair's eventual entry into the regional market. They've been tentative, and for good reason, but this is a large expansion. Four destinations, in three countries at one go.

[evanb]

Also, SAA will receive another A320 in the coming months. ZS-SZE will return to the fleet under lease from Goshawk Aviation. It's been stored in Abu Dhabi since 2020, but undergoing pre-delivery checks at Ostrava at the moment.

This is the last ex-SAA A320s remaining - all others have found new homes elsewhere, so it's the last of the "easy options" for SAA. Any additional A320s will require substantially more work to integrate into SAA's existing fleet, making any transaction a little less appealing to a lessor.

Not the case for the A330s though. Several A332s still in storage, and some A333s roaming around with ACMI work in SAA layout, some seemingly not doing much work.

FWIW, the 5 current and 1 future A320s are leased from AerCap and Goshawk (3 each). The A333 is from Seraph. None of the other A330s are owned by any of these leasing firms.

[GLF4]

LATAM returns to JNB on Sunday 03 September ARR 08:10 using B789 3x weekly.

Day 1,4,6 LA8058 GRU 17:25 - JNB 08:10 +1
Day 2,5,7 LA8059 JNB 13:05 - GRU 18:25

[evanb]

LATAM returns to JNB on Sunday 03 September ARR 08:10 using B789 3x weekly.

Day 1,4,6 LA8058 GRU 17:25 - JNB 08:10 +1
Day 2,5,7 LA8059 JNB 13:05 - GRU 18:25

From end of October (summer schedule),

GRU JNB 17:25 8:20+1
JNB GRU 13:40 19:00

SAA by comparison:
JNB GRU 11:15 16:15
GRU JNB 17:45 7:45+1

CPT GRU 12:55 16:35
GRU CPT 18:05 6:40+1

If you're making a connection in GRU (likely a lot are), the SAA schedule is surprisingly a little more flexible.

[GLF4]

TF-GOA A320 currently at Nairobi (NBO) on it's way back to enter service with SAA as ZS-SZE. Wonder where the next A320 will come from as no old SAA A320 stock available.

[African Flyer]

LATAM on its way

[Joker11]

Lufthansa is starting MUC-JNB-MUC

Has Lufthansa served MUC-JNB-MUC before? In the artical is mentions till 2005 but I don't remember ever hearing about it.

But nice to see that another old SAA route is being taken over by another airline.

https://newsroom.lufthansagroup.com/en/ ... nnections/

[GLF4]

Lufthansa is starting MUC-JNB-MUC

Has Lufthansa served MUC-JNB-MUC before? In the artical is mentions till 2005 but I don't remember ever hearing about it.

But nice to see that another old SAA route is being taken over by another airline.

https://newsroom.lufthansagroup.com/en/ ... nnections/

LH used A343's MUC-JNB.

[airbusa346]

SQ482/481 will return on January 3rd until the end of March. This is the evening arrival from Singapore and departure back to Singapore.

[FoxTROT]

Air Belgium will be stopping flights next month:
https://www.tourismupdate.co.za/article ... icle-title

[GLF4]

SQ482/481 will return on January 3rd until the end of March. This is the evening arrival from Singapore and departure back to Singapore.

LOL, that drawing looks like an A35K!

[airbusa346]

SQ482/481 will return on January 3rd until the end of March. This is the evening arrival from Singapore and departure back to Singapore.

LOL, that drawing looks like an A35K!

Yes, maybe. As far as I know Singapore does not operate the A350-1000

[GLF4]

SQ482/481 will return on January 3rd until the end of March. This is the evening arrival from Singapore and departure back to Singapore.

LOL, that drawing looks like an A35K!

Yes, maybe. As far as I know Singapore does not operate the A350-1000

No they don't, only A359 in various cabin configs.