SA EXPRESS AIRWAYS (PTY.) LTD. (SAX): P. O. Box 101, Johannesburg International Airport, Johannesburg 1627, South Africa; Phone 27 (11) 978-5577; Fax 27 (11) 978-5578; Http://www. saex-press. co. za; Code YB; Year Founded 1993. After two years of exploratory and investment work, SA Express is formed at Johannesburg in the fall of 1993 as a feeder for the flights of South African Airways (Pty.), Ltd. Capitalization for an airline holding company, SA Airline Holdings, is provided by the Thebe Investment Group (51%) and a Canadian concern, Lardel Holdings, led by CEO William S. Dulce (49%).
A marketing agreement with SAA will allow the new regional access to the major’s computerized reservations system. Although competitors will argue during licensing hearings that any arrangement between SAX and SAA will monopolize domestic services, the pact is allowed to stand.
Orders worth US$150 million are placed in December for 12 Bombardier Regional Aircraft Division (de Havilland Canada) DHC-8-314s, plus 6 options.
The first two DHC-8-314s are delivered in February 1994. The collapse of Flitestar (Pty.), Ltd. provides an unexpected fillip. The first DHC service is announced for March 15 from Johannesburg to Kimberley, but is delayed until April 19. It is soon followed by a route from Johannesburg to Upington. The aircraft are also employed, beginning on April 24, to inaugurate thrice-daily scheduled services to Durban and Cape Town. Four additional turboprops arrive in April and two more in June. These expand the route network to such additional destinations as Bloemfontein, East Long, George, Port Elizabeth, and Maputo, the latter station in Mozambique. Traffic and financial results are not made public.
All 12 DHC-8-314s are in service in 1995 and in January a $63-million order is placed for 9 British Aerospace (BAe) Jetstream 41s. The new aircraft are delivered between February and September and are placed into service to Bisho/East London, Bloemfontein, Kimberley, Mmabatho, Nelspruit, Pietersburg, Pietermaritzburg, and Umtata.
During July, Johannesburg Jan Smuts Airport is renamed Johannesburg International Airport.
In 1996, a $130-million order is placed for six Canadair RJ Regional Jets that the company labels ExpressJets. Flights are inaugurated or increased to Walvis Bay and Richards Bay. New liveries are introduced for the DASH 8 fleet.
A new “WOW” customer service campaign is launched on October 21.
Destinations visited in 1997 include Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, East London, George, Kimberley, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Upington, and Walvis Bay in Namibia. One of the company’s 12 DHC-8-314s is leased to Air Namibia, Ltd.
On February 17, the company joins with SA Airlink (Pty), Ltd. and South African Airways (Pty.), Ltd. in a three-way alliance. According to the accompanying press release, the pact is designed to provide an integrated national aviation system that can service all routes, ranging from entry level to the national hubs, and will offer national over-border air transportation.
Although the three airlines will continue to operate independently, there will be uniformity in their activities in terms of corporate appearance, ticketing, and check-in procedures.
On April 1, the number of daily DHC-8-314 return flights from Johannesburg to Richards Bay is increased from three to four, while the total of daily return flights from Johannesburg to Kimberley is boosted from three to five.
After local Plettenberg Bay resident Ilse Adler finds 24 oil-soaked penguins in May, she takes them to a holding station, where they are kept until arrangements are completed for SA Express to fly the lot to Cape Town. There they are treated by the South African National Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds.
The first Canadair CRJ is delivered in September, followed by a second in October. These are immediately assigned to the longer segments of Johannesburg to Walvis Bay and Cape Town to Walvis Bay.
The Comair (Pty.), Ltd. routes from Johannesburg to Skukuza, Hoedspruit, Gabarone, and Manzani are taken over on November 1 as Comair repositions itself as an all-jet operator on the major trunk routes and makes plans to go one-on-one with South African Airways (Pty.), Ltd. SAX Managing Director Israel Skosana refuses to disclose the purchase price. Comair will continue to market the routes and retain a share in any profits gained from them.
In December, two DHC-8-314s are chartered to the Brazilian regional Pena Transportes Aereos, S. A. A homepage is opened on the Internet’s World Wide Web on December 11, by which date the company is serving 45,000 passengers every month.
In May 1998 , the sixth Canadair CRJ is delivered and the company is entertaining 50,000 customer boardings per month.
The company sparks a fare war on October 5 when it reduces its domestic ticket prices by up to 15%. Competing Comair (Pty.), Ltd. indicates that it will immediately match the lower tariffs, but Sun Air (Pty.), Ltd. refuses to join the conflict.
On January 7, 1999, in a further effort to transform itself into a viable carrier, Air Namibia (Pty.), Ltd. signs an agreement in Johannesburg with South African Airways (Pty.), Ltd. Under terms of the document, the two carriers pledge to explore such joint business opportunities as combined customer services, linked frequent flyer programs, and codesharing. The arrangement is extended to Kalahari Express Airline (Pty.), Ltd., SAExpress Airways, and SAAirlink (Pty.), Ltd.
Flights continue in 2000. With a fleet of 6 CRJs and 7 DHC-8-300s, SA Express operates to 12 domestic destinations, plus Gaborone and Walvis Bay.
With the CRJ transitional training of Kendell Airlines (Pty.), Ltd.’s designated SAAB 340 pilots taking longer than expected, a number are seconded to SAExpress during the spring to gain practical experience.
Twice-daily CRJ roundtrips are inaugurated on September 1 from Johannesburg to Eros. An additional two return services between Johannesburg and Eros are laid on beginning on November 17, with a third on November 21. The company now offers 12 weekly roundtrips between the two communities.
SAAK (STAVROPOL JOINT STOCK AIRLINE): Stavropol Airport, Stavropol, 355010, Russia; Phone 7 (86552) 22565; Fax 7 (86552) 31036; Code SVL; Year Founded 1998. The SaAK-GEM Air Company or SAAK-GEM Aviakompaniya is reformed in late 1998 and renamed. The mission of providing charter passenger and cargo flights to domestic and regional destinations is enhanced by Director General Gennadi Russkikh to also include scheduled service. Rotary-wing work, including agricultural and energy industry support, is also offered.
The fleet at the beginning of 2000 includes 4 each Antonov An-24Bs and An-24RVs, 1 An-26B, 2 Tupolev Tu-134As, and 3 Yak-40s. Six Mil Mi-8/17 and 27 Kamov helicopters are also operated.
SAAK-GEM air company (SAAK-GEM aviakompaniya):
Russia (1992-1998). Successor to the Stavropol division of Aeroflot Soviet Airlines, SAAK-GEM or the Stavropol Stock Airline is set up at Stavropol Airport in 1992 to offer all-cargo flights to regional destinations. Director General Y. I. Gerasimov begins revenue services with an unspecified number of Antonov An-24s.
Flights continue in 1993-1998, during which years Gennadi Russkikh becomes director general and the corporate mission changes to include both passenger and cargo charters under the marketing name SAAK. Service is provided by a large fleet of 3 each Tupolev Tu-134As and Yakovlev Yak-40s, 11 Antonov An-24s, 1 An-26, 33 An-2 biplanes, 27 Kamov Ka-26, and 6 Mil Mi-8/17 helicopters.
During the fall of the latter year, SAAK-GEM is officially renamed SAAK: Stavropol Joint Stock Airline.
SAARLAND AIRLINES, GmbH.: Germany (1989-1993). Saarland is established in early 1989 to offer passenger charter and inclusive-tour flights to destinations in Europe, the Mideast, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. Revenue operations commence with a single Boeing 737-3M8.
Enplanements by year’s end total 51,500. Revenues total $8.3 million and expenses are $9.5 million; the resulting operating loss is $1.2 million.
Operations continue apace in 1990-1992. In December of the latter year, financially troubled Hamburg Airlines, GmbH. is purchased by Chairman Hans Rudolph Wohri and its owner, Jorgen Block, is given a seat on the Saarland board and allowed to retain 20% shareholding.
Early in 1993, orders are placed for five Airbus Industrie A320-231s with which to replace the Boeing. Unable to maintain viability in a recessionary industry, Saarland and Hamburg close down in the fall.
World History
