[AMcWhirter]

SAA has been mothballed while the business rescue practitioners wait for government funding.

Via news24.com

https://www.news24.com/fin24/companies/industrial/just-in-saa-mothballed-as-government-still-searches-for-money-20200929

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TiredOldHack2

[TiredOldHack2]

There’s a surprise.

[SimonS1]

I wonder if there is a “mothballing budget” with the usual suspects circling for a slice of the pie…..

[SimonS1]

Good to see the SAA humorists are hard at it. A joke about a joke, I guess.

[AMcWhirter]

Report in the Gulf News that Ethiopian Airlines has offered planes and pilots to SAA.

It wants to do a joint venture with the S African government.

https://gulfnews.com/business/aviation/ethiopian-airlines-offers-pilots-planes-to-south-african-1.74330031

[LuganoPirate]

[postquote quote=1012698][/postquote]

This seems to make good sense, and as SAA have the right to fly to Perth, would mean Ethiopian could offer flights via JNB.
Such a tie up would solve many issues and be beneficial to both countries.
I can fully understand them not wanting to take on the legacy issues and is I believe the main reason Lufthansa never made an offer for SAA.

[AMcWhirter]

I agree LP. It makes sense as, like most growing airlines, ET will have aircraft which are currently grounded.

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LuganoPirate

[SimonS1]

[postquote quote=1012769][/postquote]

All depends whether ET can handle the level of political interference and corruption that taints everything in SA these days.

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alainboy56, AMcWhirter

[cwoodward]

Given the closer political ties being pursued by both countries and the formal agreement,signed in January to cooperate on tourism the proposal on the surface seems to make perfect sense. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/south-africa-ethiopia-vow-to-strengthen-bilateral-ties/1700473

Ethiopian were on track in January 2020 to make a profit of US$700 million for the year closing July.

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LuganoPirate

[AMcWhirter]

I came across this tweet yesterday from Ethiopian.

Africa’s biggest airline, Ethiopian is willing to provide planes, pilots and maintenance services to beleaguered rival South African as part of a joint venture with that country’s government. Ethiopian Airlines' GCEO Mr.Tewolde GebreMariam pic.twitter.com/VRPOm9K6qK

— Ethiopian Airlines (@flyethiopian) October 5, 2020

[SimonS1]

Some unofficial shots are emerging of the first planes and mechanics to arrive as part of the SAA bailout. Due to commitments at the Zondo Commission, Dudu Myeni was unavailable for comment on when ANC jaunts to Zimbabwe flight schedules would commence.

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alainboy56, BackOfThePlane

[sparkyflier]

On the face of it, this seems a no-brainer. the SA Gov will be somewhat miffed no buyer will be willing to pay for even some of the horrendous debts, but if they want an airline with a decent fleet run by experienced management ET is equipped to do that. They have a wide fleet of very modern jets many of which are not being used right now. (772, 773, A350, 788/789 longhaul, even some 767 still and 737 short medium etc).

Of course ET is looking to partner with the new Zambia Airways, which if it actually gets going, will likely lease aircraft off ET (788, 738 and Dash?), however ET will still have spare aircraft. I believe in addition to Malawi and Chad “national” carriers, there is also talk of a new Ghana Airways, with support from ET.

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BA789

[LuganoPirate]

I wonder what they did / will do, with the brand new A350 they bought?

[cwoodward]

Donate it to the ANC ?

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alainboy56, sparkyflier

[SimonS1]

Maybe the engines will ‘go missing’ as happened before.

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alainboy56

[Author]

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