SAA must revisit cargo
policy - Kalawe
Cooper, after briefly alluding to the background leading to the introduction by SAA of the 737-800s, said they were now being disputed as the incorrect choice both domestically and for the region given their small belly cargo loading capacity.
Wayne Lazo said SAA, having made the commercial decision to limit capacity, should allow the freight industry to look elsewhere. "There has to be a free market situation."
He came out strongly in favour of an "open skies" policy for international carriers, questioning why SAA should be allowed to continue as "the policeman of traffic rights" in South Africa.
"SAA should not be allowed to motivate situations like international tourists coming to the Cape terminating in Johannesburg by subsidising domestic oncarriage, a major reason for a number of airlines flying to the Cape pulling out."
He questioned why Virgin, flying with very good loads and offering among the best cargo handling in and out of the Cape, should be restricted to only two flights a week.
Lazo said there was no real benefit to a carrier only flying to a destination once or so a week and he felt Virgin, if allowed greater frequency, would give great capacity with fairly good international connections for perishables.
"Granted, there has to be demand but the first prize would be open skies for international carriers as there certainly is demand for more airlines flying to the Cape which would solve the problem of cargo and passenger capacity.
"The second prize would be at least an open skies policy with regard to domestic passengers and cargo being conveyed on foreign carriers."
Kalawe said he fully agreed with an open skies concept and expected within the next 12 to 18 months "a firm decision" on relaxing restrictions allowing more international airlines to bring more passengers to South Africa.
Lazo countered: "In that year perishable exporters are going to be hard pressed to survive and keep their product in the international marketplace."
Domestic restriction must be addressed
Ron Meredith said SAAÕs strategy was more frequent flights with these, smaller than the Airbus, aircraft "but they forget they cannot put anything in the belly so if they really wish to be a true carrier they should go back to offering a total freighter service."
Kalawe was told that as international carriers flying from Cape Town to Johannesburg were prohibited from carrying domestic passengers and cargo they flew empty - a point Gordon Hall asked him to draw attention to in future.
Jason SchouwÕ said his dilemma was that he required around 60 tons of space on SAA a week but had to make do with a maximum of about 30 tons a week, the remainder having to be trucked or spread between the likes of British Airways, Virgin and Lufthansa flying direct to Europe, and Air Malaysia and Air Singapore to the Far East.
"No consultation took place between SAA and any of the parties on the 737s, planning was insufficient and it is not only going to adversely affect the Western Cape economy but you guys (ACSA) and ourselves as well.
