... as airlines depart for good
THREE OUT, two to stay and one comes in. It may sound like a baseball innings but it represents the situation regarding international airlines flying in and out of South Africa.
When Alitalia announced last month that it would terminate its service to this country from Italy, it became the third airline to take that decision in the past two months. It joined Sabena (ceased end January) and Austrian Airlines which ends its association with this country at end April.
All have cited diminishing passenger loads and the falling rand as their reason for withdrawal, but each will tell you cargo loads, especially northbound, have helped to keep the flights alive as long as they did.
Happily, Turkish Airlines rescinded a previous decision to join them with an announcement that it will continue its Istanbul-Johannesburg service, at least for the time being. The airline has also found too many empty seats and the local economy a handicap in providing a service, but trade between the two countries has encouraged a stay of execution.
That alone may not be sufficient in the long run to maintain the route and it is now up to the airline and its associates to encourage tourists to fill the seats.
Likewise Iberia Airlines has made it clear it has no intention of withdrawing from the Madrid-Johannesburg service, putting an end to persistent rumours that this would happen. The airline has a solid freight load in both directions, mainly fish northwards and automotive bookings southbound.
Incoming shortly will be Brazilian carrier Varig which suspended its service two years ago but, encouraged by the leap in trade between that country and South Africa, is to resume flights shortly.
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