Cape Town - SAA is not the only international airline that has struggled in the past few years. But in spite of the industry’s difficulties, which have caused some to go out of business and others to amalgamate, passenger numbers have almost doubled since 2001 to almost 3 billion this year. A lot of this growth has been in Africa and more is expected.
So the nearly 4 000 Cape Town schoolchildren who went to an exhibition of career opportunities available in the airline industry, organised by low-cost airline Mango in Athlone last week, were on the right track.
They were shown opportunities for air crew – with a chance to “fly” a simulator and speak to a captain and cabin crew – and told about other jobs with airlines, including in engineering, marketing and human resources.
There may also be several airlines offering employment in this country or the region.
London-listed Fastjet, which hopes to buy 1time out of provisional liquidation and add Joburg to its growing list of destinations, reported this week that it is about to take delivery of more aircraft.
Whether Fastjet does save 1time depends on if the minister of transport waives a condition that South African airlines must be 75 percent owned by South Africans. Fastjet will go ahead with the sale only if it is the controlling shareholder.
But it is already expanding in other sub-Saharan countries and announced this week that it had average passenger loads of 81 percent.
European airlines, including British Airways, KLM and Air France, are increasing the number of African destinations they fly to. So are Middle Eastern airlines.
A report by the International Air Transport Association this week showed that the Middle Eastern airlines had the second-highest passenger loads in the world and suggested this was due to their route networks serving emerging markets.
So whatever happens, at least we shall soon find it easier and cheaper to travel within Africa and can expect to get more African business people and tourists arriving.
Avoid the cycle crush
It would be wise to avoid flying to Joburg or Durban from Cape Town on Monday or Tuesday because most of the thousands of participants in the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour, many of whom brought family and friends, will be going back.
Monday morning flights to Joburg are always busy because so many business people are on them, but after the Cycle Tour demand is particularly higher.
According to Deidre Davids, head of communications at the airport, demand for flights will be high for most of the week as some of the visitors will stay on to avoid the rush home.
Davids also warns that some airlines are reluctant to carry the gas canisters that some participants brought with them and limit the number that can be brought aboard their flights. She advises cyclists to check with the airline before bringing them to the airport.
The Airbus A350 XWB (extra wide-bodied), which includes parts made by South African aerospace manufacturer Aerosud, is now being tested in the air. It is among aircraft that will be offered to SAA when it renews its fleet. - Weekend Argus