SAA's financial woes
Feb 7, 2020, 9:09 am
#152
Join Date: Oct 2011
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 164
I looked on Flysaa.com, and based on my travel dates in April, they have already made the reductions in their schedule. I tried to book new flights (fake booking) on my travel date and saw that flight frequencies were already reduced. My flight still is same schedule as planned.
I also tried DUR-JNB, and Port Eliz-JNB, and all mainlines SAA flights are already removed.
I also tried DUR-JNB, and Port Eliz-JNB, and all mainlines SAA flights are already removed.
Feb 7, 2020, 9:40 am
#153
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Slightly to the left of center
Posts: 3,475
Title of the article above missing another big change - cancellations of several international routesOn February 29, 2020, SAA will also close the regional and international services from Johannesburg to Abidjan via Accra, Entebbe, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Luanda, Munich, Ndola, and Sao Paulo.
SAA will continue to operate all international services between Johannesburg and Frankfurt, London Heathrow, New York, Perth and Washington via Accra.
SAA will continue to operate all international services between Johannesburg and Frankfurt, London Heathrow, New York, Perth and Washington via Accra.
Feb 7, 2020, 10:02 am
#154
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: LAS, ZQN
Programs: UA PP (2MM), BA gold
Posts: 2,202
Have UA award to JNB via GRU - on phone with UA this morning over 45 minutes and they were "unaware" of any changes -after some educating was on hold with SAA for 35 more minutes before giving up.
Will try later for alternate but see no options as no UA flights to FRA and no SAA award seats from there for my dates.Might have to open wallet.
Will try later for alternate but see no options as no UA flights to FRA and no SAA award seats from there for my dates.Might have to open wallet.
Feb 7, 2020, 11:21 am
#155
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 1,153
I looked on Flysaa.com, and based on my travel dates in April, they have already made the reductions in their schedule. I tried to book new flights (fake booking) on my travel date and saw that flight frequencies were already reduced. My flight still is same schedule as planned.
I also tried DUR-JNB, and Port Eliz-JNB, and all mainlines SAA flights are already removed.
I also tried DUR-JNB, and Port Eliz-JNB, and all mainlines SAA flights are already removed.
Feb 7, 2020, 1:51 pm
#156
Join Date: Oct 2011
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 164
I have seen as many as 16 each way per day on SAA Mainline in the past. I have to admit I am not 100% sure if the reductions have fully taken effect, but it seems there have been at least 3-4 each way pulled out. Which seems to align with the Feb route cuts that are currently in place.
Feb 8, 2020, 11:59 am
#158
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,186
The head of state is not happy SAA is cancelling flights: 
https://www.fin24.com/Companies/Indu...eport-20200207
"Government is not in agreement with the BRPs about the decision to cancel certain flights. We as government are saying we need to sit down with the BRPs and discuss the matter," said Ramaphosa.
Subsequent to Ramaphosa indicating his unhappiness, the Ministry of Public Enterprises issued a statement on Friday afternoon saying government is concerned that "recent decisions concerning SAA have caused market and customer uncertainty that may jeopardise the long-term future of the airline".
Subsequent to Ramaphosa indicating his unhappiness, the Ministry of Public Enterprises issued a statement on Friday afternoon saying government is concerned that "recent decisions concerning SAA have caused market and customer uncertainty that may jeopardise the long-term future of the airline".
Feb 8, 2020, 1:12 pm
#160
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
"High-level industry stakeholders believe the route gaps left by SAA’s cancellation[s] ... will be plugged by other airlines. “It’s supply and demand,” said SA Tourism CEO, Sisa Ntshona. Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, was equally sanguine, noting that it didn’t matter how international tourists came, as long as they still travelled to ‘Destination SA’."
Source
Johan
Source
Johan
Feb 8, 2020, 7:31 pm
#161
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
The head of state is not happy SAA is cancelling flights:
https://www.fin24.com/Companies/Indu...eport-20200207
https://www.fin24.com/Companies/Indu...eport-20200207
Still I suppose it must be frustrating that the squads of government and party types may see their travel options limited or heaven forbid may have to actually pay for their flights....
Feb 9, 2020, 2:17 am
#162
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,273
And of course there is now outrage from the SACP and Cosatu as well. It's about time that they realise that thanks to their continual support for the Zuma ANC, their jobs are now going to disappear. In many of these SOE's, including SAA. Chickens coming home to roost....
Feb 10, 2020, 7:02 am
#163
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 4
Have UA award to JNB via GRU - on phone with UA this morning over 45 minutes and they were "unaware" of any changes -after some educating was on hold with SAA for 35 more minutes before giving up.
Will try later for alternate but see no options as no UA flights to FRA and no SAA award seats from there for my dates.Might have to open wallet.
Will try later for alternate but see no options as no UA flights to FRA and no SAA award seats from there for my dates.Might have to open wallet.
Feb 10, 2020, 7:26 am
#164
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: LAS, ZQN
Programs: UA PP (2MM), BA gold
Posts: 2,202
I am in the same boat with 3 people on that JNB-GRU segment. I called the day after SAA's announcement and United had no clue about the changes. I am going to give it a few days to see if SAA rebooks my flight onto one of their US flights since there's no J award space back to the US on my dates.