Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - IAD-JNB flights -- refuelling stop question

When I initially made a reservation on SA208 for mid-June, the flight was listed as nonstop. A refuelling stop has since been added with a 4:45p arrival in JNB rather than 3:35. Is this change seasonal? Some other reason why it was added? Flight still seems to be on an A340-600. Thanks!

There's some info. here (http://2afrika.blogspot.com/2008/02/summer-schedule-change-on-south-african.html). Looks like the one stop on the DC outbound trip is temporary, however I recall hearing that SAA would like to start exercising more of its fifth freedoms to carry pax from DC to Dakar, so this may be a step in that direction...

Will

SAA has decided to route Flight #208 with a brief fuel stop (1 hour) in Dakar, Senegal on a temporary basis for the period of June 15 through August 15. Unfortunately, due the summer season when temperatures are high the aircraft is payload restricted, sometimes by up to 70 passengers, on a nonstop IAD-JNB flight of this duration At this time of year with the payload restriction, it make it financially challenging to operate the flight on a nonstop basis. This is also the peak travel period from North America to South Africa, so the brief stop in Dakar will allow SAA to sell / operate at full capacity and therefore have more seats available.

SAA has decided to route Flight #208 with a brief fuel stop (1 hour) in Dakar, Senegal on a temporary basis for the period of June 15 through August 15. Unfortunately, due the summer season when temperatures are high the aircraft is payload restricted, sometimes by up to 70 passengers, on a nonstop IAD-JNB flight of this duration. At this time of year with the payload restriction, it make it financially challenging to operate the flight on a nonstop basis. This is also the peak travel period from North America to South Africa, so the brief stop in Dakar will allow SAA to sell / operate at full capacity and therefore have more seats available.