SAA to NRT?
An article on the Japanese website Aviation Wire indicates that SAA is seriously interested in resuming service to Japan, this time to NRT.
Given the route length (nearly 8,500 miles) this would probably either have to be an extension of their HKG service, or have a stop in Southeast Asia. They briefly flew JNB-BKK-KIX after KIX opened, but loads were terrible and they pulled out of the market. |
Given that SA has 11 hour and 30 minute downtime in HKG it might be worthwhile if they can get rights to carry passengers between HKG and NRT.
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Originally Posted by evanb
(Post 25281720)
Given that SA has 11 hour and 30 minute downtime in HKG it might be worthwhile if they can get rights to carry passengers between HKG and NRT.
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Originally Posted by Cheetah_SA
(Post 25290021)
That does make sense. And isn't HKG struggling a bit on the passenger numbers (as opposed to cargo)? This could kill a few birds with one stone.
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Originally Posted by evanb
(Post 25281720)
Given that SA has 11 hour and 30 minute downtime in HKG it might be worthwhile if they can get rights to carry passengers between HKG and NRT.
SA departs HKG to JNB a bit earlier than ET does to ADD, so presumably the situation would be slightly better if SA were offering the NRT-HKG sector as well, hopefully getting into HKG before the last Airport Express train runs. |
Originally Posted by dvs7310
(Post 25291117)
That's precisely what ET is doing now. They opened the route in April but didn't have 5th freedom rights until recently. Now the round trip is by far the cheapest between Tokyo and HKG but the arrival time in HKG is pretty bad for local arrival (1:30am), the return timing is fine though.
SA departs HKG to JNB a bit earlier than ET does to ADD, so presumably the situation would be slightly better if SA were offering the NRT-HKG sector as well, hopefully getting into HKG before the last Airport Express train runs. SA 286 JNB HKG 16:55 12:25+1 SA 287 HKG JNB 23:55 07:10+1 |
Originally Posted by evanb
(Post 25292314)
Current schedule:
SA 286 JNB HKG 16:55 12:25+1 SA 287 HKG JNB 23:55 07:10+1 The aircraft sits in HKG for 11hrs 30, flying HKG NRT HKG will consume +/_ 10hrs 40. They cannot turn the aircraft around in HKG and NRT in just 15mins per cycle. There would also be crew implications.... Lastly they would need to secure beyond rights Given the above I dont think it will happen, but sure hope it does, I find it frustrating having parked metal at foreign airports (PER, IAD, LHR, FRA, MUC and HKG) when it could be flying on and earning $$$. Further linking to other *A hubs would be convenient for passengers. A better solution could be linking to ICN and Asiana? Not sure on the volumes though? |
Originally Posted by SAWorldVoyager
(Post 25292369)
A better solution could be linking to ICN and Asiana? Not sure on the volumes though?
If SA wishes to serve TYO then it makes sense to stop at at *A hub enroute - e.g. BKK, BOM, PVG, or SIN - either with or without local traffic rights. |
Originally Posted by SAWorldVoyager
(Post 25292369)
Lastly they would need to secure beyond rights |
Originally Posted by Indelaware
(Post 25296023)
ICN would require an en-route stop, it being even further from JNB than is TYO.
JNB - NRT 8438 mi JNB - HND 8402 mi JNB - JFK 7969 mi flies non - stop albeit with some operational sacrifices. I however was advocating ICN as an onward option from HKG from an available on the ground time perspective for the current SA286/7 ops |
Originally Posted by dvs7310
(Post 25296632)
BKK is another obvious choice if SA has any interest in SE Asia, Thailand seems to give 5th freedom rights to anyone who asks.
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There is no possible way to do NRT non-stop from JNB. At nearly 6,000ft above sea level the payload restrictions from Johannesburg would be ridiculous. Even if they were not the economics of such a route would probably also make it non-viable. The logical tag on would be to an existing route (i.e. HKG). Starting another new route like BKK would be risky given the problems with a JNB-BKK-JNB route. TG tried it and were unsuccessful since the O&D traffic was just too low yielding. SA have good existing connections to BKK through AUH already. HKG makes sense since the aircraft already has a lot of down time in HKG, and they are likely to get 5th freedoms. However, I still think SA are focusing on a JV with CX instead which would probably negate it.
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Incidentally, and sort of related to this topic, has everyone noticed that Air China is starting a PEK/JNB service later this year? Three days a week using a 3-class 777-300ER. Decent timings for connections too.
CA 868 JNB PEK 11:50 07:30+1 CA 867 PEK JNB 23:15 07:55+1 |
Originally Posted by Cheetah_SA
(Post 25298274)
Incidentally, and sort of related to this topic, has everyone noticed that Air China is starting a PEK/JNB service later this year? Three days a week using a 3-class 777-300ER. Decent timings for connections too.
CA 868 JNB PEK 11:50 07:30+1 CA 867 PEK JNB 23:15 07:55+1 |
Originally Posted by Cheetah_SA
(Post 25298274)
Incidentally, and sort of related to this topic, has everyone noticed that Air China is starting a PEK/JNB service later this year? Three days a week using a 3-class 777-300ER. Decent timings for connections too.
CA 868 JNB PEK 11:50 07:30+1 CA 867 PEK JNB 23:15 07:55+1 |
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