Agents Fear Festive Mayhem on PLZ, ELS Routes
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October 11 2017 I No. 2466 SOUTHERN AFRICA’S TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY TNW8384SD NEWS NEWS FEATURE SENIOR CONSULTANTS FASTJET LOYALTY PROGRAMMES CPT agencies struggle to replace staff Moz domestic flights on the cards LCCs are coming to the party INSIDE Page 2 Page 4 Page 6 Agents fear festive mayhem on PLZ, ELS routes CANDICE MAY be at its worst on December financial crisis. connections as a result of adding that initially the fares 16 as well as a few days “We are battling with cancellations. He suggests may be higher due to the HE trade is growing before and after Christmas domestic flights connecting that SAA should increase its festive season. Linden Birns, concerned about and New Year, the most international travellers to Port staff contingent in the call md of Plane Talking, agrees: Tundersupply and over- popular days for festive Elizabeth as lots of flights centres. “It’s been the most “Over the years, we have demand on the JNB-PLZ and season travel. As a result, have been cancelled,” says frustrating part, trying to get seen airlines withdraw from JNB-ELS routes over the she expects other airlines Rachael. She says she has hold of an agent in the call domestic routes and the festive season following SAA’s that operate these routes will a few clients who are due to centre and holding on the market entirely. We have even announcement that it will charge higher fares. leave in the next week but phone for hours, literally to get seen some airlines temporarily reduce the number of flights Rachael Penaluna, business the return flight has been one ticket fixed. Remember, grounded during peak holiday from four to two a day on the manager of Sure Maritime cancelled. our time equals money.” seasons. Each time, other PLZ route and from three to Travel, says the PLZ hub is David van den Heever- In response to the trade’s airlines have stepped in to two a day to ELS, effective currently stranded, as most Liebenberg, travel director of concern, June Crawford, take advantage with their own October 29. of its schedules are operated Marmalade Toast Bespoke ceo of Barsa, says she is capacity and frequencies.” Debbie Joubert, md of by SAA and SA Express – Travel and Destination confident that other domestic FlySafair has already taken Sure Travel 24-7, says the another airline the trade is Management, has also carriers will step into the advantage by upping flights on undersupply will undoubtedly concerned about due to its experienced problems with breach if the market demands, To page 2 Fastjet gains SA foothold TEssA REED established presence in SA, while fastjet has a presence LOW-COST carrier fastjet’s in multiple geographical brand licensing agreement locations, distribution and with Federal Airlines has an interline agreement with given it a foothold in South Emirates. Africa, giving it access to a Nico did not go into details local network and the ability about any future flights, but to launch domestic flights comments: “Federal Airlines in South Africa, with the will be looking to expand possibility of further enhancing into additional routes in its regional network too. It is South Africa and regionally, a development expected to using the fastjet brand.” disrupt the aviation landscape He adds that new routes in South Africa. will be accessed on a case- The agreement includes an by-case basis, taking into 10 years to the Mother City! option to purchase, which account the, financial viability, fastjet has not exercised. competition landscape as well Celebrating Turkish Airlines’ 10th anniversary of servicing Cape Town at a dinner in Nico Bezuidenhout, ceo, as passenger volumes on the the Mother City on September 27 are (from left): gm Cape Town, Kenan Ince; Turkey’s says the agreement brings route. Ambassador in SA, Elif Çomoglu Ülgen; and Deon Cloete, Acsa gm Cape Town opportunities to both parties: The deal will disrupt the International Airport. Photo: Hilka Birns Federal Airlines has an aviation landscape in existing network and an To page 2 TNW8383SD NEWS Staff shortages drive up Cape Town salaries SARAH ROBERTSON consultants became the growth in the ITC market apparent toward the end and confirms that all four of ECRUITMENT of 2016. “Companies are the Travelways offices have companies report a waiting four to five months been struggling to fill posts Rshortage of senior while they try to replace for the last three years. consultants in the Western staff. While a year ago an Sam van Gool, gm of Cape that has resulted in average salary for a top Peopleworks, the FCTG sharp increases in salary consultant was around HR division, says FCTG’s TNW6154SD offerings, which are now on R20 000 plus commission Cape Town and surrounding a par with Johannesburg this figure has jumped up offices have been struggling remuneration packages. to over R25 000 this year. to fill vacancies this year. Rubes® By Leigh Rubin Canvassed Western Cape We recently placed a senior Sam says the shortage is agents report that it is taking consultant at a salary of particularly apparent for them months to replace R32 000, an unheard of seniors. Likewise, Brian consultants, putting severe figure!” Singer director of the Singer pressure on understaffed There is a definite shortage Group and of XL Travel, says reservations teams in this of qualified consultants there is an oversupply of region. in the Cape at junior, junior consultants at the Lee van Dyk, HR executive intermediate and senior bottom end of the market for Quantex HR Specialist level, says Cindy Dyamond, and an undersupply of Consultancy, says the gm of Sure Travelways. Cindy seniors at the top end of the shortage of Cape Town attributes the shortage to market. Agents fear festive mayhem From page 1 Kirby Gordon, vice president feasible to announce them. its JNB-ELS route from five to of sales and marketing of When asked for the seven flights a week and on FlySafair, says the airline will reasoning behind reducing its JNB-PLZ route from six to likely add more flights to both flights right ahead of eight flights per week. Flights routes as it sees demand the festive season, SAA on the JNB-ELS route will spike. spokesperson, Tlali Tlali, said further increase to 14 flights Susan Van Der Ryst, the airline was not oblivious from December 14. With corporate communications to the spike in demand that these additional flights, the manager of Comair, says plans might arise over the festive number of seats will rise from to increase flights on any season. “We have options that an average of 1 279 to 1 416 of British Airways or kulula. will enable us to respond to per week on the PLZ route and com’s routes are commercially this situation and the details an average of 934 to 1 213 sensitive and will therefore thereof could be announced in “Hmm, slighty earthy with a hint of worm.” per week on the ELS route. remain confidential until it is the near future.” Founding Editors: Fastjet gains SA foothold John H Marsh (1914-1996) Leona Marsh (1923-2003) From page 1 domestic flights, but that the GDS is a possibility. EDITORIAL South Africa. Barsa ceo, as Mozambique shares Under Nico’s leadership, the TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY Editor: Tessa Reed [email protected] www.etnw.co.za June Crawford, says the borders with all the countries airline has moved its head Features Editor: Michelle Colman [email protected] development gives fastjet, in which fastjet operates office from London to South Published by Publisher: Anton Marsh [email protected] through Federal Airlines, the (SA, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Travel & Trade Publishing (Pty) Ltd Deputy Publisher: Natasha Schmidt [email protected] Africa, re-fleeted with Embraer Printed by Juka Printing (Pty) Ltd Journalists: ability to operate domestic Tanzania), it does make sense 145s and eJets, while a new Phone: (011) 327-4062 Dorine Reinstein Candice May flights. She points out that in time to link these countries management team in SA is Fax: (011) 327-4094 Sarah Robertson Hilka Birns foreign companies need to to each other. also in place with an average E-mail: [email protected] prove a 75% South African Nico says Federal Airlines of between 10 and 15 years Web: www.nowmedia.co.za Photographer: Shannon Van Zyl shareholding to operate flights, which service safari global and African aviation Address: Now Media Centre, Production Editor: Ann Braun 32 Fricker Road, Illovo Boulevard, domestic flights in SA, which lodges in South Africa, will experience per person. In Illovo, Johannesburg. GROUP PUBLISHER fastjet does not have. June continue to operate under the the first half of the airline’s PO Box 55251, Northlands, David Marsh [email protected] says this agreement is a existing brand. Rebranding financial year, which runs from 2116, South Africa. creative way for fastjet to these flights as fastjet flights January to December, absolute SALES enter the domestic aviation Sales Director: Kate Nathan [email protected] is an option but will depend costs were reduced by 46%, Ad Co-ordinator: Anthea Harris [email protected] market in SA. on engagement with the losses were reduced by 57% Referring to the brand trade. He adds that fastjet and unit revenue was up 30%. PRODUCTION licensing agreement with will seek to leverage its “Our objective is to reach a Design Head: Dirk Voorneveld Federal Airlines in SA distribution channels to make cashflow break even in quarter SUBSCRIPTIONS and Solenta Aviation in Federal Airlines’ seats more four of this year and we are Circulation: [email protected] Mozambique, Nico says accessible and that making currently on track to achieve initially fastjet will launch these seats available on that,” says Nico.