SAA Route Cancellations

[Graham Hunter]

Just got word from my Outfitter in the Eastern Cape SAA will no longer be flying there. Mango is the new carrier. Don't know about guns.

 

[Bullthrower338]

I think I will just drive next time!

https://www.flymango.com/en/baggage/dangerous-goods-and-prohibited-items

 

[Ridgewalker]

Mango Airlines...YIKES!

 

[Vanguard2279]

Just got word from my Outfitter in the Eastern Cape SAA will no longer be flying there. Mango is the new carrier. Don't know about guns.

Are they suspending flights to all airports in the Eastern Cape? Where does he usually want clients to fly in to?

 

[Uintaelkhunter]

Found this info from a quick google search. May put a damper on some guys hunts.


South African Airways will stop eight international routes from Johannesburg, as the airline undergoes a business restructuring aimed at easing its financial woes.

From February 29, it will no longer serve Abidjan via Accra (Ghana), Entebbe (Uganda), Guangzhou (China), Hong Kong, Luanda (Angola), Munich (Germany), Ndola (Zambia), and Sao Paulo (Brazil).

On its domestic route network, it will continue to serve Cape Town from Johannesburg on a reduced basis, but will end all other destinations, including Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth.

Domestic routes operated by its low-cost subsidiary Mango will not be affected.

Customers booked on cancelled flights will receive a full refund, or be re-accommodated on services operated by Mango.

International services between Johannesburg and Frankfurt, London Heathrow, New York, Perth and Washington via Accra will be retained.

Regional services from Johannesburg to Blantyre, Dar es Salaam, Harare, Kinshasa, Lagos, Lilongwe, Lusaka, Maputo, Mauritius, Nairobi, Victoria Falls, Livingston and Windhoek will also continue.

The business rescue practitioners (BRPs) leading the restructure said that while a full plan would be published in late February, some measures needed to be implemented more quickly due to an “urgent” need to conserve cash.

As well as route network changes this will include the deployment of more fuel-efficient aircraft, optimisation of organisational structures and renegotiation of contracts with suppliers.

The BRPs said that “rationalisation programmes are under consideration for SAA’s subsidiaries, as well as the sale of selected assets,” in order to improve liquidity.

In a bid to reassure potential passengers, they added that further route changes are not expected.

 

[Philip Glass]

Just got word from my Outfitter in the Eastern Cape SAA will no longer be flying there. Mango is the new carrier. Don't know about guns.[/QUOTE

https://www.flysaa.com/documents/51...lizabeth/d0b7e3cf-61d4-4cd3-b1e4-61d3e30b16c7

It looks like they’ve gone to one flight a day to and from PE and the rest operated by Mango. Maybe since it will be a SAA codeshare flight Mango will carry guns? In the past only SAA carried guns domestically in RSA.
Maybe @Travel Express can provide us more information.

Philip

 

[BRICKBURN]

https://flymango.com/upload/Forms/09MAY2014_Mango_TandC/Mango Terms and Conditions of Carriage.pdf

Current Policy for MANGO.
8.15 Items unacceptable as Baggage

8.15.1 You must not include in your Baggage
8.15.4 Firearms: MANGO does not permit carriage of any kind of firearms
without limitation, hunting rifles and ammunition of any nature) whether on your person or in your Checked or Un-checked Baggage. MANGO does not provide storage of such items under any circumstances.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

SAA Airlink and SAA Express both carries firearms, and dont seem to be included in the domestic Flights affected.

 

[BRICKBURN]

https://www.flysaa.com/de-traveladvisory

 

[BRICKBURN]

SAA Airlink and SAA Express both carries firearms, and dont seem to be included in the domestic Flights affected.

This is the Airlink Route Map.
Nothing from JNB to East London.

https://www.flyairlink.com/destinations/flights-to-johannesburg

 

[BRICKBURN]

Hmmmm.
Not sure whats going on with these guys.

Court rules SA Express must be placed into business rescue, but airline will appeal
Feb 06 2020 11:42
Jan Cronje and Sibongile Khumalo

State-owned airline SA Express must be placed into business rescue, the Johannesburg High Court ruled on Thursday morning.

While SA Express and SAA are both state-owned airlines, they are distinct businesses. SAA was placed into voluntary business rescue in early December.

Earlier in January, transport and logistics company Ziegler filed an urgent court application to place SA Express under business rescue, in an effort to recover around R11.3m it says the airline owes it for services rendered.

But shortly after the ruling was handed down on Thursday, SA Express said it had instructed its attorneys to appeal.

"Considering the content of the judgment, it is clear that the court went over and above what it was required and granted orders not sought by the applicant," the group said in a statement.

"The court has also not made any order on whether the matter was urgent or not, in circumstances when the urgency was specifically opposed. The company has instructed its attorneys to apply for leave to appeal, which leave will be filed as soon as it is considered and settled by senior counsel."

Connie Mulder, the head of Solidarity's Research Institute, told Fin24 that the ruling was important, as it showed that state-owned entities were subject to the Companies Act. By making the ruling, the court had "cemented its jurisdiction," he said.


SA Express flies on "secondary" local and regional routes, including to Bloemfontein, East London, Gaborone in Botswana, Hoedspruit, Kimberley. Lubumbashi in the DRC, Mthatha, Port Elizabeth and Walvis Bay in Namibia.

At last year's Budget, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni said government should consider selling SA Express "as a case study" for privatisation.

But the airline received another R300m to keep on flying in September last year - on top of the R1.2bn it got in the February budget.

Last year, SA Express planes were grounded due to outstanding payments to the Airports Company South Africa (Acsa).

It is currently in a battle with SAA for money it says it is owed by SAA. SAA acts as its booking agent, but according to SA Express has not been transferring money from bookings to SA Express.

UPDATE: In a statement issues later on Thursday afternoon, the board of SA Express said it is seeking further legal advice in relation to the business rescue judgment.

"It is a known fact that SA Express has been plagued by suppliers who are currently under internal review for serious abuse of the procurement system, unfair pricing and overcharging," states the SA Express board.

"Tens of invoices, allowed by previous SA Express management, were found to have discrepancies and it is on this, among a number of other issues, that the airline will appeal."


https://www.fin24.com/Economy/South-Africa/sa-express-must-go-into-business-rescue-court-rules-20200206

 

[Bushpig4Ever]

Mango won’t accept guns. That’s why, during the SAA strike some months ago, I had to cancel my Zimbabwe buffalo hunt.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Someone will figure it out. They always do.

 

[Nick BOWKER HUNTING SOUTH AFRICA]

AIRLINK WILL CONTINUE OPERATING ON ROUTES ABANDONED BY SAA



06/02/2020, JOHANNESBURG – Airlink, the privately-run South African airline, will operate services linking Johannesburg with Port Elizabeth, Entebbe, Ndola and Luanda after 29 February 2020, even though its franchise partner, SAA, will stop serving those destinations from that date.

“We want to reassure travellers that as far as Airlink is concerned, it is business as usual! Our schedule and operations are unaffected by SAA’s latest network cuts,” said Rodger Foster, Airlink CEO and Managing Director.

Airlink has been operating flights to Entebbe, Uganda on SAA’s behalf and will continue these services without disruption after 29 February 2020.

Currently Airlink operates two flights a day to Ndola, Zambia, which will allow travellers booked on SAA’s own flights to be re-accommodated on Airlink after 29 February 2020 with no interruption.

Airlink recently secured traffic rights to operate daily direct flights to Luanda, Angola. It will commence this service after 29 February.

“Our flights will operate under the “SA8” flight code until 10 June 2020, after which they will be operated under Airlink’s unique “4Z” code. “4Z” tickets are already available through travel agents, tour operators and online at www.flyairlink.com,” added Mr Foster.

Tickets already issued for travel on SAA flight numbers on these routes, after 29 February 2020, will remain valid, subject to re-accommodation by Airlink. Customers holding those tickets may apply to SAA for re-accommodation onto Airlink’s flights. Those who do not want to be re-accommodated, may apply to SAA for a refund in line with its Business Rescue refund policies.

Customers requiring assistance should contact Airlink on ‪+27 451 7350‬ or send emails to customercare@flyairlink.com

 

[rookhawk]

The more important question is "will Airlink follow the baggage and security rules of SAA, meaning guns and ammunition may travel on those routes?"

AIRLINK WILL CONTINUE OPERATING ON ROUTES ABANDONED BY SAA



06/02/2020, JOHANNESBURG – Airlink, the privately-run South African airline, will operate services linking Johannesburg with Port Elizabeth, Entebbe, Ndola and Luanda after 29 February 2020, even though its franchise partner, SAA, will stop serving those destinations from that date.

“We want to reassure travellers that as far as Airlink is concerned, it is business as usual! Our schedule and operations are unaffected by SAA’s latest network cuts,” said Rodger Foster, Airlink CEO and Managing Director.

Airlink has been operating flights to Entebbe, Uganda on SAA’s behalf and will continue these services without disruption after 29 February 2020.

Currently Airlink operates two flights a day to Ndola, Zambia, which will allow travellers booked on SAA’s own flights to be re-accommodated on Airlink after 29 February 2020 with no interruption.

Airlink recently secured traffic rights to operate daily direct flights to Luanda, Angola. It will commence this service after 29 February.

“Our flights will operate under the “SA8” flight code until 10 June 2020, after which they will be operated under Airlink’s unique “4Z” code. “4Z” tickets are already available through travel agents, tour operators and online at www.flyairlink.com,” added Mr Foster.

Tickets already issued for travel on SAA flight numbers on these routes, after 29 February 2020, will remain valid, subject to re-accommodation by Airlink. Customers holding those tickets may apply to SAA for re-accommodation onto Airlink’s flights. Those who do not want to be re-accommodated, may apply to SAA for a refund in line with its Business Rescue refund policies.

Customers requiring assistance should contact Airlink on ‪+27 451 7350‬ or send emails to customercare@flyairlink.com

 

[Nick BOWKER HUNTING SOUTH AFRICA]

As KMG mentions above SA Airlink allow rifles and shotguns. Also see screen shot below. Not my area of expertise. The permit guys need to weigh in.

Also I have not had folk flying Airlink to Port Elizabeth carrying rifles. Always been SAA. Maybe some of the other sponsors can weigh in.

 

[BRICKBURN]

https://www.flyairlink.com/baggage-policy/interlining-of-baggage#firearms-and-ammunition

AIRLINK REQUIRES THREE WORKING DAYS NOTICE FOR FIREARMS CARRIAGE

 

[CAustin]

AIRLINK WILL CONTINUE OPERATING ON ROUTES ABANDONED BY SAA



06/02/2020, JOHANNESBURG – Airlink, the privately-run South African airline, will operate services linking Johannesburg with Port Elizabeth, Entebbe, Ndola and Luanda after 29 February 2020, even though its franchise partner, SAA, will stop serving those destinations from that date.

“We want to reassure travellers that as far as Airlink is concerned, it is business as usual! Our schedule and operations are unaffected by SAA’s latest network cuts,” said Rodger Foster, Airlink CEO and Managing Director.

Airlink has been operating flights to Entebbe, Uganda on SAA’s behalf and will continue these services without disruption after 29 February 2020.

Currently Airlink operates two flights a day to Ndola, Zambia, which will allow travellers booked on SAA’s own flights to be re-accommodated on Airlink after 29 February 2020 with no interruption.

Airlink recently secured traffic rights to operate daily direct flights to Luanda, Angola. It will commence this service after 29 February.

“Our flights will operate under the “SA8” flight code until 10 June 2020, after which they will be operated under Airlink’s unique “4Z” code. “4Z” tickets are already available through travel agents, tour operators and online at www.flyairlink.com,” added Mr Foster.

Tickets already issued for travel on SAA flight numbers on these routes, after 29 February 2020, will remain valid, subject to re-accommodation by Airlink. Customers holding those tickets may apply to SAA for re-accommodation onto Airlink’s flights. Those who do not want to be re-accommodated, may apply to SAA for a refund in line with its Business Rescue refund policies.

Customers requiring assistance should contact Airlink on ‪+27 451 7350‬ or send emails to customercare@flyairlink.com

thanks Nick

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Airlink operates smaller regional jets, so the passenger capacity is going to be limited. Also, it appears there are related issues with SAA problems:

Disasters piling on SAA: Now South Africa’s Airlink to sue for $47 million
By Our Correspondent


February 05, 2020: South Africa’s Airlink is planning to sue South African Airways (SAA) and its business rescue practitioners (BRPs) for ZAR700 million rand ($47 million) in unpaid ticket revenue, Moneyweb has reported citing court documents. The regional carrier asserts that the lost income is putting its operations at risk.

On January 31, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered probe from special government investigators for South African Airways (SAA) that he believed to have operated corruptly dating back to at least 2002.

Airlink has been able to agree with the BRPs of SAA - Les Matuson and Siviwe Dongwana about the revenue earned from December 6, 2019, onwards and it is currently being paid daily.

SAA has been in business rescue since December last year, which protects it from litigation and enforcement of claims. Its BRPs have not responded to a formal request from Airlink to proceed to the court explained Airlink CEO Rodger Foster in court papers submitted to the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg.

“Without this cash being paid, Airlink may not be able to continue operations in the very near future,” he said. “The airline business is a low margin one. Airlink relies on high turnover and consistent cash flows to fund its business on a month-to-month basis.”

Airlink incurred ZAR389 million ($26 million) in operating expenses in November, and as a result of SAA’s refusal to transfer due to ticket revenue, it had to use working capital reserves to fund these expenses and it also breached one of its aircraft finance agreements, informed Foster.

The BRPs disagree, as they consider the sums to be pre-commencement debt, meaning that they are classified with other amounts SAA incurred shortly before going into business rescue. These are typically put on hold while SAA is in business rescue and creditors are not allowed to enforce claims on them.

Last month, Airlink began the process of divorcing itself from SAA following the replacement of its SAA franchise agreement with a new commercial arrangement. To that end, effective June 11, 2020, it will resume operating flights under its own ‘4Z’ flight code.

On January 28, the state-owned Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) has prevented the collapse of the carrier by providing it 3.5 billion rand ($239 million).

Meanwhile, Comair's management is planning to meet SAA’s Les Matuson, to discuss the more than ZAR1 billion rand ($69 million) settlement won against SAA in February 2019. The airline filed for bankruptcy protection proceedings on December 5, 2019.

 

[markm]

Last i heard mango does not carry firearms try sa airlink thats who i use and they do.

Just got word from my Outfitter in the Eastern Cape SAA will no longer be flying there. Mango is the new carrier. Don't know about guns.