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Other Domestic South African Airline Fleets and Technical Information

The following is an overview of Comair's History and Fleet infromation obtained from their official website, www.comair.co.za This includes British Airways and Comair


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1992

Comair, in terms of the deregulated market, enters the Johannesburg / Cape Town route with a Boeing 737-200 aircraft.  During the same year, Comair also introduces as F28-4000 aircraft to provide three return services per day on the Johannesburg / Cape Town route.

1993

Comair introduces a Boeing 737-200 service on the Johannesburg / Durban route, providing two return flights per day.

1994

Comair is successful in being awarded flight frequencies on the Johannesburg / Harare route which service is introduced during the second quarter of 1994.

1995

Comair acquires two more B737’s, two ATR-42’s and a leased 727-200.  Returns Fokker F28’s to manufacturers.  Adds Windhoek to regional network.

1996

50 years service to the aviation industry

1996

Comair celebrate their 50th Anniversary.  New headquarters open in Bonaero Park and they begin flying to Hoedspruit.  Comair enters into a franchise agreement with British Airways which commenced 27 October.

1997

Turbo-prop operations discontinued on the routes Richards Bay, Manzini, Gabarone, Skukuza and Hoedspruit.  An agreement was signed with SA Express in terms of which they operated the routes with effective 1 November, 1997.

1997

Agreement signed for 25% shareholding of Sun Air – 18 November 1997.

1999

July 11, Comair commences operating the Cape Town / Durban route – functions in both Durban (Botanical Gardens) and Cape Town (Ratanga Junction) to commemorate the introduction.

1999

July – Resignation from the Sun Air Board by the Comair Directors.

1999

Sun Air discontinues operations on Friday 13 August – SAA acquired the shares of the Black Empowerment Group.

1999

July – two Boeing 737-200 are purchased from British Airways (Plc).

1999

11 August, 1999, British Airways opens the Executive Club departure lounge in the domestic departures terminal at Johannesburg International Airport, with the British Airways global “Terraces” theme.

1999

The first service to Lusaka in Zambia commenced on the 31 October with two return services per week.

1999

British Airways is voted Best Domestic Airline by ASATA (Association of South African Travel Agents).

2000

British Airways acquire an 18.3% shareholding in the company by purchasing the shares held by Gensec and CNI.

2000

British Airways introduces a service to Lilongwe, Malawi, in March 2000, which is suspended in November of the same year.

2000

British Airways introduces product benefits including more legroom than any other domestic carrier – a seat pitch in Club (business class) of 39 inches, and 34 inches in Traveller (economy class).  Other benefits include branded onboard catering, free valet parking for selected passengers, kerbside check-in and Terraces Lounges at Cape Town and Durban airports.

2000

British Airways is voted Best Domestic Airline by ASATA for the second year running.

2001

South Africa’s first no-frills airline, kulula.com, launches 1 August, 2001, with three return flights between Johannesburg and Cape Town.  Bookings can we made via the website or the kulula.com Call Centre.

2001

kulula.com introduces two return flights between Johannesburg and Durban, and increases frequency on the Johannesburg / Cape Town route.

2001

British Airways is voted Best Domestic Airline by ASATA for the third consecutive year.

2002

kulula.com launches kulula.com/cars – 19 August, 2002, with Imperial.  This includes an all-in rate (including contract fees, insurance, kilometres and the daily rate).

2002

kulula.com upgrades to as new state of the art fleet of Boeing 737-400’s.

2002

British Airways operated by Comair Limited, enters into a codeshare agreement with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, effective 21 October, 2002.

2002

Four cadets from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, sponsored by Comair Limited, graduate with flying colours from 43 Air School in Port Alfred.

2002

kulula.com is voted “Best Domestic Airline” by ACSA for 2002.

2003

Passengers travelling on kulula.com are allowed to change their bookings online from April 2003.

2003

kulula.com introduces two new routes from 22 April, 2003 – Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth, and between Durban and Cape Town.

2003

For the first time ever in history, British Airways flies all female crew into Lusaka, Zambia, and back on 21 May, 2003.

2003

British Airways relaunches the global Executive Club programme, adding additional benefits and global consistency to the frequent flyer scheme.

2003

From July, 2003, kulula.com joins forces with Khaya car hire, to run their fleet of cars.

2003

On 31 July, kulula.com lists onto the main travel agents bookings system, Galileo.  Bookings can now be made on their GDS and from anywhere in the world.

2003

kulula.com adds yet another route to its network with a daily return flight from Johannesburg to George effective 22 August, 2003.

2003

British Airways, as part of the ongoing fleet replacement programme, acquires, with financial assistance from Investec Bank, three B737-300 aircraft from Qantas Airways, to be delivered in August, September and October 2003.  The aircraft are valued at R200 million

2003

Effective 1 October, Comair Limited, having successfully complied with the specified criteria, is granted Proudly South African status.

2003

Comair Limited’s Boeing 737 flight simulator training facility expands to provide training for various domestic and international airlines, thereby creating an additional revenue source.

2003

December – kulula.com replaces its entire fleet with four MD82's.  One new jet will be phased in every month until March 2004. 

2004

January – British Airways is granted permission to operate 3 weekly return flights between Johannesburg and Livingstone.  The service begins 28 March, 2004.

2004

kulula.com launches kulula.com/beds on 29 January 2004.  Just R300 per room per night with Protea Hotels.

2004

On the same day (29 January) kulula.com introduces kulula.com/cabs – a chauffeur service to and from the airport for just R150 one way.

2004

02 February – British Airways Comair introduces a codeshare agreement with Spanish national carrier, Iberia on domestic routes within South Africa.

2004

March – British Airways is voted the “Best Domestic Airline” for the fourth time in five years, by the ASATA Congress.

British Airways (South Africa)

British Airways fleet information

The British Airways fleet comprises of 15 aircraft in total – ten Boeing 737-200’s, three 737-300’s and two 737-400’s.

Boeing 737-200

 

Capacity

35 Business / 58 Economy

Range

2,590 kilometres

Engines

Pratt and Whitney JT8D-15A

Cruising speed

900 KPH

Length

30.5 metres

Wingspan

28.35 metres

Seat pitch in Club (business class)

39 Inches

Seat pitch in Traveller (economy class)

34 Inches

 

Boeing 737-300

Three Boeing 737-300 aircraft were acquired from Qantas Airways, and delivered in August, September and October 2003 as a part of the ongoing fleet replacement strategy.  The financing for the stage 3 noise compliant aircraft was arranged with Investec Bank.

The forward-looking 737-300 offers more seats, better performance and fuel economy, thus assisting us in reducing the exposure to fuel price fluctuations.

The 116-seater Boeing 737-300 offers a multitude of operator advantages beyond simply improving range and saving fuel. Environmental benefits include reduced noise on takeoff and landing, decreased engine emissions in flight and reduced engine maintenance requirements.   The aircraft also offers digital technology on the flight deck. These electronics systems provide concise flight information and reduce the crew’s workload when landing the aircraft in bad weather.

The aircraft also offers roomy interiors, large overhead stowage bins for carry-on baggage, leather seats throughout the cabin and a total useable cargo volume of 30,23 with the freight hold being accessible from the ground.

Capacity

22 Business / 94 Economy

Range

2,960 kilometres

Engines

CFM 56-3B2

Cruising speed

900 KPH

Length

33.4 metres

Wingspan

28.9 metres

Seat pitch in Club (business class)

39 Inches

Seat pitch in Traveller (economy class)

34 Inches

 

Boeing 737-400

The Boeing 737-400 aircraft were acquired from British Airways Plc. and financed through an operating lease with SAFAIR, part of the Imperial Group. SAFAIR will also provide full maintenance support for the aircraft.

The Boeing 737-200 aircraft are being phased out to make way for the newer, more fuel efficient Boeing 737-400s, which are also more environmentally friendly due to their quieter new technology engines.  Apart from noise level benefits, the aircraft are more spacious and have additional overhead stowage capacity as well as leather seats throughout the cabin.  The fuel efficiency reduces British Airways Comair’s exposure to oil price and exchange rate volatility.

British Airways Comair pilots underwent cross-training for the 737-400 at the company’s local flight simulator, which was commissioned in 2002 and has resulted in significant cost saving through local pilot training.

 

Capacity

43 Business / 84 Economy

Range

2900 kilometres

Engines

CFM 56- 3C1

Cruising speed

900 KPH

Length

36.5 metres

Wingspan

28.9 metres

Seat pitch in Club (business class)

39 Inches

Seat pitch in Traveller (economy class)

34 Inches

Kulula.com Airlines

kulula.com fleet information

The kulula.com fleet comprises of four MD-82’s phased-in between December 2003 and March 2004. The new aircraft are the quietest around with both the engines located at the back of the plane. 

Boeing MD-80 series - Specifications

Dimensions

Wingspan

32.8 m (107ft)

 

Tail Height

45.06 m (145ft)

 

Overall Length

9.02 m (29.6ft)

 

Cabin Width (floor level)

3.3 m (10.82ft)

Design Weights

Maximum Taxi Weight

67 948 kg (149 800lbs)

 

Maximum Landing Weight

58 967 kg (130 000lbs)

 

Maximum Zero Fuel Weight

55 339 kg (122 000lbs)

 

Operating Empty Weight

23 786 kg (81 100lbs)

Power

2 x Pratt & Whitney JT8D-217C turbofans

Cruising Speed

821 km/h (455kts)

Cruising Altitude

9 144 to 12 192m (30 000 to 40 000ft)

Range

2 897 km (1 800 miles)

Passenger Capacity

150

Fuel Capacity

Volume

22 116 L (5 840 US gallons)

 

These kulula.com jets have a maximum of 150 seats on board, with a seating configuration of 2 seats on the one side, and 3 on the other.

 

All four aircraft have their own unique look - see below for designs.