SAA will announce the preferred supplier for its fleet renewal programme by October this year.
This is according the SAA ceo, Monwabisi Kalawe, who said the airline had refined its RFP to reflect the changes requested by the Department of Public Affairs.
“The SAA Board also requested that we find a technical advisor to assist us in the acquisition programme. We have done that and will be presenting to the board on May 29,” he said.
Some authorities have raised concerns that the order books of both Boeing and Airbus are full, and that it will take much longer than initially expected to take delivery of the aircraft. Monwabisi said the airline discovered an option to source equipment directly from lessors, who may be able to provide equipment a bit earlier than the manufacturers would be able to. “We have technical advisors working with us to give us expert advice on this matter,” he said.
Meanwhile, two additional Airbus A320s are currently being completed at the Airbus facilities in Toulouse ahead of their deliveries to SAA over the next few weeks.
They are the latest in an order for 20 of the modern and cost efficient twin-engined jetliners that were placed by SAA and are being customised to SAA’s unique specifications, Airbus said in a statement.
SAA’s A320s feature a two class cabin layout, seating 24 passengers in business class and 114 in economy.
SAA began receiving its new A320s last year and has taken delivery of four of the aircraft to date. It also operates two leased A320s.
“Its move to a common Airbus fleet is already delivering cost and operational efficiencies and improving its profit margins across its domestic and Sub-Sahara Africa network. These will improve further as its A320 fleet expands and as the markets SAA serves continue to grow,” Airbus said.
