Three airlines plan SA services

AT LEAST three airlines are believed to be considering launching services to South Africa. Doha-based Qatar Airways, Thai Airways and Gulf Air are the three named in FTW’s sister publication TNW. Qatar Airways is reported to be already negotiating rates with hotels in Rosebank, Johannesburg for air crew accommodation. Relaunched in 1997, it is one of the fastest growing airlines in the world. It serves 49 destinations and plans to serve 60 by next year. Last year it signed a R35 billion deal with Airbus and took delivery of 12 new aircraft. Thai operates 83 aircraft, mostly widebodies, to 72 destinations. It code-shared with SAA on its flights to Bangkok and the reverse is likely to be the case should Thai now operate the route. It is a founder member of the Star Alliance which SAA has applied to join. Gulf Air flew to South Africa for a brief period in the nineties. The beleaguered national carrier of Bahrain, Oman, and Abu Dhabi was founded in 1950 but has recently been overhauled. It recently won the Airline Turnaround of the Year Award.