The trade is growing concerned about undersupply and over-demand on the Johannesburg-Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg-East London routes over the festive season following SAA’s announcement that it will reduce the number of flights from four to two a day on the Port Elizabeth route and from three to two a day to East London, effective October 29.
Debbie Joubert, Managing Director of Sure Travel 24-7, says the undersupply will undoubtedly be at its worst on December 16 as well as a few days before and after Christmas and New Year, the most popular days for festive season travel. As a result, she expects other airlines that operate these routes will charge higher fares. Rachael Penaluna, Business Manager of Sure Maritime Travel, says the Port Elizabeth hub is currently stranded, as most of its schedules are operated by SAA and SA Express – another airline the trade is concerned about due to its financial crisis.
“We are battling with domestic flights connecting international travellers to Port Elizabeth as lots of flights have been cancelled,” says Rachael. She says she has a few clients who are due to leave in the next week but the return flight has been cancelled.
David van den Heever-Liebenberg, Travel Director of Marmalade Toast Bespoke Travel and Destination Management, has also experienced problems with connections as a result of cancellations. He suggests that SAA should increase its staff contingent in the call centres. “It’s been the most frustrating part trying to get hold of an agent in the call centre and holding on the phone for hours, literally to get one ticket fixed. Remember, our time equals money.”
In response to the trade’s concern, June Crawford, CEO of Barsa, says she is confident that other domestic carriers will step into the breach if the market demands, adding that initially the fares may be higher due to the festive season. Linden Birns, Managing Director of Plane Talking, agrees: “Over the years, we have seen airlines withdraw from domestic routes and the market entirely. We have even seen some airlines temporarily grounded during peak holiday seasons. Each time, other airlines have stepped in to take advantage with their own capacity and frequencies.”
FlySafair has already taken advantage by upping flights on its Johannesburg-East London route from five to seven flights a week and on its Johannesburg-Port Elizabeth route from six to eight flights per week. Flights on the Johannesburg-East London route will further increase to 14 flights from December 14. With these additional flights, the number seats will rise from an average of 1 279 to 1 416 per week on the Port Elizabeth route and an average of 934 to 1 213 per week on the East London route. Kirby Gordon, Vice President of Sales and Marketing of FlySafair, says the airline will likely add more flights to both routes as it sees demand spike.
Susan Van Der Ryst, Corporate Communications Manager of Comair, says plans to increase flights on any of British Airways or kulula.com’s routes are commercially sensitive and will therefore remain confidential until it is feasible to announce them. When asked for the reasoning behind reducing the number of flights right ahead of the festive season, SAA Spokesperson, Tlali Tlali, said the airline was not oblivious to the spike in demand that might arise over the festive season. “We have options that will enable us to respond to this situation and the details thereof could be announced in the near future.”
