The SAAF Forum

https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south- ... nd-drive2/

This is painful. An airline makes money by flying people from one point to another. The extremely long and bad patch SAA is going through has nothing to do with routes but all to do with theft and corruption. Paul Sullivan has already exposed the Chairperson Myeni as corrupt. Why does a chairperson overshadow the CEO and COO ? Is there any other company on this planet that has such an active Chairperson ? It is like she is the alpha and omega at SAA more powerful than Airline captains with masters degree.

The saddest part is other airlines are raking it in. Qantas achieved a record $1.4 bilion (R18 billion) profit last financial year. Delta managed $1.2 billion. Closer to home Kenyan airways managed $8 million and state shielded Ethiopian airlines made a whopping $270 million. Given SAA's reputation
i) As the most on time airline in 2013 https://www.flysaa.com/pl/en/flyingSAA/ ... nours.html
ii) Africa's best airline 14 years running from 2002-2016 https://tinyurl.com/ydfypym2
iii) One of two 4 star airlines in Africa http://www.news24.com/Travel/Flights/SA ... g-20140120

At least profits of $400 million should be the norm.

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I have always believed if done right , armed robbery doesn't have to be a totally unpleasant experience- Brad Pitt as J.D in Thelma and Louise

Fat cats getting hectic salaries and mismanagement..got nothing to do with airlines performances. Captains get good money..SAA is more money than Kulula..SAA first officers get well over R50k per month.

In January 2016 alone, SAA spent R52.9 million on pilot and crew accommodation

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Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is a mystery.
But today is a gift.
That's why it's called the present.
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Adrian Munro
http://www.weddingduo.co.za
https://www.facebook.com/Airfirephotography/

Unfortunately, theft, corruption and maladministration is just one aspect of the sad tale that is the modern SAA.

A large contributory factor in SAA's losses is that of political interference. Here I'm not just referring to the imposition of persons in senior positions purely because of their relationship with the ruling party and its leader, but also being 'requested' to fly unprofitable routes, such as to Beijing. Other routes to and between African countries (such as the Accra-Abidjan route) are also flown at a loss. This may very well apply to internal domestic routes as well.

An airline generates revenue flying people from one point to another, but generating revenue is not enogh, it must make a profit on that route. Route not profitable? Drop it.

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How come every time my ship comes in, I'm at the airport?

Not as simple as dropping a route. Many reasons why a non profit route may be kept in service. It's just a matter of political (incompetent) interference with a highly technical low margin business. SAA must be allowed to be run professionally by those who actually know how to. Maybe they should offer Comair a majority share