Tag Archives: SouthAfricanAviation
SAA Extends Sale Offering Of Up To 20% Discount Across The Route Network
Johannesburg, 3 March 2020 – South African Airways (SAA) has extended its sale, offering discounts of up to 20% to major destinations across its route network.
These offers are available for sale from today to 5 March only so customers are encouraged to respond quickly to take advantage! The sale has been extended due to the positive uptake last week, where SAA recorded high levels of sales activity across its markets.
“Due to the tremendous response we received last week for our special offers, the sale is back by popular demand and we are extending it during this week,” said Philip Saunders, SAA Chief Commercial Officer.
The extended sale will be accessible on all SAA’s major distribution channels, at www.flysaa.com and throughout a network of travel agents both in South Africa and in other African and international markets the airline continues to serve.
“We are pleased that our customers and travel trade partners are showing renewed trust in our brand. We aim to build further on this trust by offering our customers more exciting offers over the months ahead,” said Saunders.
SAA’s sales have also been bolstered by the reinstatement of the Travel Insurance Consultants insurance services across the travel trade, which provides protection for customers choosing to fly with SAA.
The extended sale includes destinations such as New York, London, Washington DC, Perth, Frankfurt, Blantyre, Dar es Salaam, Kinshasa, Harare, Lilongwe, Lagos, Lusaka, Livingstone, Maputo, Mauritius, Nairobi, Victoria Falls and Windhoek.
Prices are all-inclusive and for return flights and are available in economy class, as well as for travel in business class.
Travellers can choose to fly between Johannesburg and New York, London, and Frankfurt from as little as R8 999. These economy class return offers are fully inclusive, providing a discount of up to 20% with Business class tickets also discounted at up to 20%, with fares to New York from R49 927, London from R37 178 and Frankfurt from R32 902.
For further information, customers can book on www.flysaa.com or contact their nearest travel agent. T’s and C’s apply.
The airline’s revised route network will ensure customers keep reaching their destinations while enjoying SAA’s 4-star experience along the way.
SAA Joins Fight Against The Illegal Wildlife Trafficking
JOHANNESBURG. 3 MARCH 2020 – As the world commemorated World Wildlife Day on Tuesday, South African Airways said it would help intensify the fight against the global illegal wildlife trafficking.
As a new member of the USAID Reducing Opportunities for Unlawful Transport of Endangered Species (ROUTES), the national carrier said it would work hard to reduce the trafficking seizure of 42% of wildlife animals checked in luggage, 4% hidden in passenger clothing, 23% in air flight, 4% in mail and 27% recorded as unknown.
SAA employees are being trained in methods to detect wildlife smugglers and their activities and to report these to the relevant authorities.
USAID ROUTES said Africa is a significant source of smuggled live animals and wildlife products.
For example, in 2019 more than 103 wildlife animals were seized in three countries across the African continent. Most commonly, air traffic of wildlife animals in the African skies involves:
· Ivory moved from East Africa, through the Middle East, into Asia;
- Rhino horn moved from Southern Africa, through East Africa and the Middle East, into Asia;
- Pangolin scales moved from West Africa, through Europe, into Asia;
- Tortoises moved from Madagascar, through East Africa, into Asia;
- Abalone moved from Southern Africa straight to Asia and
- Nile crocodiles moved from the Horn of Africa into the Middle East.
Now SAA said it was committed to taking action to protect wildlife and their natural heritage.
SAA has joined the fight against illegal wildlife trade by adopting the Illegal Wildlife Trade Module of the IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) Programme. IEnvA is an equivalent of the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), but in terms of the environment rather than safety. SAA is audited, much like IOSA, and certified as IEnvA compliant. The airline was recently successfully audited through the Illegal Wildlife Trade module of the IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) Programme to ensure that the correct systems and procedures are in place.
In its effort to fight against illegal wild-life trade, SAA recently conducted an awareness campaign among its employees to demonstrate how a trained dog can reinforce detection efforts to combat wildlife trafficking in the air transport industry.
SAA Offers Irresistible Fares To Major Destinations
Johannesburg, 27 February 2020 – South African Airways (SAA) is offering irresistible fares to major destinations.
“At South African Airways, the time for change has come. Change that sets a new flight path and prepares our business for take-off. We’re changing our route network to be smarter and more efficient whilst ensuring our best customer service. Most importantly though, is that we’re changing to keep you flying,” SAA said in its first advertising campaign since the business rescue process began in December 2019.
SAA is offering customers three days to take advantage of competitive fares to New York, London, Washington DC, Perth, Frankfurt, Blantyre, Dar es Salaam, Kinshasa, Harare, Lilongwe, Lagos, Lusaka, Livingstone, Maputo, Mauritius, Nairobi, Victoria Falls and Windhoek. The fare deals are available in Economy Class as well as for travel in Business Class.
From Wednesday, February 26, to Friday, February 28, travellers can book all-inclusive return flights to a number of regional and international destinations including New York and London from R8999, and Lagos and Lusaka from R4554. Customers can book on www.flysaa.com or contact their nearest travel agent. T’s and C’s apply.
The airline’s revised route network – which comprises of its most successful routes, will ensure customers keep reaching their destinations while enjoying SAA’s 4-star experience along the way.
CAASA Aviation Activity Index (CAAI) – 4th Quarter Embargo: 21 February 2020
CAASA Aviation Activity Index (CAAI) – 4th Quarter
Embargo: 21 February 2020 (10:00)
Introduction
The Commercial Aviation Association of Southern Africa (CAASA) is proud to announce the results of its composite index of aviation activity for the 4th quarter of 2019.
The CAASA Aviation Activity Index (CAAI) is based on 26 different indicators and
provides an objective & balanced gauge of economic activity in the commercial aviation industry. Due to the short-term volatility inherent in purchasing and selling aircraft, where
units are small, but the currency values are very high, the CAAI includes a trend that is based on a 4-quarter moving average, as illustrated by the graph.
Summary of key trends depicted by the CAAI for the 4th quarter of 2019:
- The index value increased substantially from the 3rd quarter to reach a level of
130.7, which represents a 31% increase in commercial aviation activity since the
base period (1st quarter of 2014). This is, however, considerably lower than the
all-time record that was attained in the 4th quarter of 2018, namely 204. One of
the reasons for the sound recovery of both the index value and the trend is
related to the highly successful 2018 Africa Aerospace & Defence (AAD)
exhibition, which was the first AAD since the election of a new executive
administration in South Africa, which is committed to pragmatic policies to
encourage economic growth, whilst also combating the scourge of corruption.
An encouraging feature of the latest CAAI results is the fact that, after adjustment
for inflationary effects, the commercial aviation industry has outperformed the
South African economy over the past six years.
- It is also apparent that the slump in aviation activity that lasted for eleven
quarters (until the 3rd quarter of 2018) has been reversed. Aviation remains a
highly capital intensive sector and it has been under some strain as a result of
policy uncertainty, low levels of business confidence, lethargic economic growth
and high interest rates. - Unfortunately, the recovery in the trend of activity since the 3rd quarter of 2018
has been accompanied by a higher level of volatility, with only ten of the 26
different indicators recording gains over the 4th quarter of 2014. - A particular point of concern is the poor performance of air traffic movements
(ATMs) at most of the airports managed by the Airports Company of South Africa
(ACSA). All nine of these airports recorded lower ATMs in the 4th quarter of 2019,
compared to the 4th quarter of 2016. - In contrast, the six non-ACSA airports included in the CAAI, recorded consistent
growth in ATMs until the first quarter of 2019, but a noticeable slump has since
set in. It is quite clear that the stringent visa regulations that were introduced in
2015 by the Department of Home Affairs under then Minister Malusi Gigaba have
taken their toll on both the South African tourism industry and the commercial
aviation industry. - In the 4th quarter of 2019, the value of aircraft spares imports reached its second
highest level on record, namely more than R1.1 billion.
Total aircraft imports (unladen mass of under 15 tonnes) amounted to R487
million in the 4th quarter, slightly lower than the export figure of R554 million.
Pegasus Universal Aerospace Signs MoU With Callen-Lenz Group
Pegasus Universal Aerospace signs MoU with Callen-Lenz Group as partner for flight control systems development.
Veteran aviator Captain Andrew Dietrich appointed as Chief Pilot
South Africa’s Pegasus Universal Aerospace, pioneer of the Vertical Business Jet (VBJ®) Pegasus One, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with UK-based, technical aviation consultancy, Callen-Lenz Group. The agreement brings the two companies together to exclusively collaborate on the design and development of the flight control systems for the Pegasus One aircraft.
The flight control systems are integral to supporting the aircraft operations in all phases of flight, including transition from vertical take-off and hover, to forward horizontal flight. The merging of these functions, into one unique system, will be a key technology, enabling Pegasus One to deliver its powerful performance capabilities. Pegasus selected Callen-Lenz as its development partner owing to the team’s reputation for creating innovative solutions, required core competencies and experience, in realising complex technologies in the aerospace sector.
Dr Reza Mia, Pegasus founder and Chairman said, “We believe that Callen-Lenz is the ideal partner for Pegasus. Their inventive approach to aerospace challenges, their expertise, and their willingness to embark on this exciting journey with us to deliver a unique proposition determined our selection process. We are excited to be working on this game changing project with them.”
“We have been invited to work with a number of new aircraft programmes, but were extremely impressed by the ambition, vision and quality of the Pegasus VBJ project. As the race hots up to deliver new aircraft technologies, we are pleased to join forces with one of the most exciting airframes in development,” said Jonathan Webber, CEO, Callen-Lenz.
The Pegasus team has already made great strides over the past year in developing multiple scale models, completing comprehensive studies into the drivetrain and thrust fan systems to support a true hybrid-electric propulsion power source. Pegasus is in ongoing discussions with two leading powerplant OEM’s to ensure the best performance capability is achieved.
The signing of the MOU with Callen-Lenz Group ushers in the next significant phase in the programme. Under the terms of the MOU the Callen-Lenz team will work closely with the Pegasus executive team, engineers and newly appointed chief pilot Captain Andrew Dietrich, whose appointment was also confirmed in August. Captain Dietrich joins the expanding Pegasus team with some 16,000 hours flying time spanning a 26-year career operating ultra-long-range commercial airliners and corporate jets. Familiar with numerous flight-decks, working with a variety of avionics systems and aircraft simulators, Captain Dietrich brings valuable knowledge to Pegasus. Reporting directly to the executive team, his hands-on experience will deliver vital input to the aircraft operational capability, performance and safety requirements.
As an integral part of the Pegasus technical team he will work alongside Callen-Lenz and Pegasus Chief Engineer Matthew Buttle and be responsible for overseeing compliance, safety procedures and the co-ordination of test pilots during the official test flight phase.
“We want to build an aircraft that pilots know is responsive, safe, reliable, efficient and above all fun and straight forward to fly. Captain Dietrich will help us achieve these goals and more. We are excited to add his extensive skills and enthusiasm to our team,” commented Dr Reza Mia.
“I’m aware there are many eVTOL projects in development, but I wanted to work with the dynamic Pegasus team. The concept is brilliant, the team is solid, and I believe it will make a dramatic difference to the way executives and high-net-worth individuals think about flight in the future. There is also huge potential in the oil and gas platform, (OGP) sector. Being involved with the Pegasus project allows me to use all my accumulated experience on one of the most exciting new and innovative aircraft programmes on the market, it’s a superb opportunity,” added Captain Dietrich.
Construction of a full-scale VTOL demonstrator to show in Europe in 2020 has already begun and a series of investor evenings in South Africa starts this month.
The MoU with the Callen-Lenz Group and the appointment of Captain Dietrich will ensure Pegasus development continues on the right trajectory.
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