September 27, 2006.
Dear Travel Partner:

We are pleased to share with you, our valued travel partner some very exciting news. SAA will again be the only daily non-stop carrier to South Africa from the United States.

SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS ANNOUNCES NEW DAILY NON-STOPS

FROM THE US TO SOUTH AFRICA

Fort Lauderdale, FL (September 28, 2006) -- The fastest airline to South Africa just got faster. South African Airways, South Africa’s premier carrier and the continent’s most awarded airline, has announced new daily non-stop service from Washington Dulles International Airport to Johannesburg, South Africa, effective October 30, 2006, which will operate year-round (with the exception of the months of July and August, when the service will be direct with a brief refueling stop). With a flight time of just 15 hours and thirty minutes, the new non-stop flight shaves more than two and a half hours from SAA’s previous flight time and eliminates the route’s stop in Dakar, Senegal.


“No layovers. No stopovers. Your next stop is South Africa,†says Marc Cavaliere, Executive Vice President of SAA – North America regarding the new non-stop service. “At SAA we are continually looking for ways to enhance our service and this new non-stop brings South Africa closer in terms of travel time for our clients further enhancing the very best service to Africa.â€

For today’s on the go business and leisure travelers, time, more than money, is the most precious commodity. Less time in the air translates into more time on the ground enjoying the destination, whether that means arriving at the safari lodge in time for the afternoon game drive, or arriving in time to secure a deal before the close of business.

South African Airways new Washington – Johannesburg non-stop will feature the airline’s flagship aircraft, the Airbus 340-600. With four Rolls Royce Trent engines, the A340-600 ensures that the trip is not only incredible fast, but also incredibly quiet.

The non-stop route features SAA’s Premium Buisiness Class service highlighted by the airline’s award-winning 180-degree lie-flat seat bed, as well as Economy Class service with a generous 34†pitch for added legroom and comfort. South African Airways makes short work of the long haul by treating passengers in all classes of service to travel amenity kits, on-demand entertainment systems in every seat, and complimentary South African wines and spirits.

“SAA is Africa’s airline,†explains Cavaliere. “We are committed to the destination, we are committed to the routes, and we are the experts on the continent. No one can bring you in touch with Africa like South African Airways, no one.â€

South African Airways features the only direct service from the US to South Africa with daily departures from New York and Washington that offer travel convenience, award-winning service, and the quickest route to South Africa. The airline’s Africa network is unsurpassed, featuring connections to more than 20 destinations within South Africa, and more than 20 cities across the continent, making the airline the savvy traveler’s “gateway to Africaâ€. As a recent member to the worldwide Star Alliance, South African Airways is now able to offer its customers 852 destinations in 152 countries and more than 15,500 flights daily.

Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Your South African Airways Sales Team


The flight will depart IADat 625pm and arrive JNB at 330pm (plus one).
The rtn flight will still have a stop in Dakar.
For the months of July and August 2007 (and only these months)
the flight will revert back to departing at 1250pm.

Ain't competition great.

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
Ain't competition great.

It sure is.

Flying out at 6:30 p.m. at night might make it easier to sleep and stay in the routine, if that's possible.

Doesn't look like you will be in time for any connections, so what the difference if you have to overnight in Joburg anyways.

Unless Joburg is your final.

I might not understand fully, but it appears that if most have to overnight in Joburg it will require much more paperwork for the South African customs and longer lines there. I could be wrong.

Very good point on the connections at that late time in the day, complicated by the fact that you need to get through the SAPS procedures as well. Come to think of it, it now appears to be even more detrimental to hunters' schedules. Kathi and all others connected with travel plans and schedules, you might want to pass that information on to SAA, not that it would make any difference, but who knows, they might listen.

Cramped seats, and TV's that don't always work. What could be BETTER!!!!!

Just take Delta beginning Dec 4th.

Delta is going to require an overnite in Joburg as well. I still think when the dusk has settle, going thru Frankfurt might be the best bet with the schedules and connections.

I havne't tried it yet, but I am really trying to decide what to do. This year the SAA flights with my bags were a disater.

Has Delta published any future flight schedules?

The problem is that schedule dicks up all the same day connections into Bulawayo and I don't want to spend the night in Johannesburg with all the gun regs hassle. jorge

I checked with Delta and there is one last connection into Windhoek if you are going there. You will have about 1 1/2 hours. You WILL NOT have to claim your guns on that connection so you can go straight through.

From the mouth of DELTA!

Deltas flight will arrive around 3:45 PM in JNB

If Zim is you destination, or the easern cape then you have the same problem, overnite in Joburg. More paperwork.


Delta has only solved a problem for a couple of destinations

It appears that you would be able to make the last flight to Harare, as well as Port Elizabeth, and Cape Town. Yes you'll arrive very late but at least you'll be there, and ready to go on to the hunting areas in the morning.

Does anyone know yet who's flights Delta is connecting with in RSA?

Les

1 1/2 hrs is not enough time for bags to make the next flight coming off a full international flight.

That is what happened this year to 60% of the hunters this year on the flight from Dulles arriving at 12:00PM into Joburg.

Bags don't make it. SAA is always late. Bags alot of the time don't make it the next day causing hunters to miss bags for 4 to 5 days once you are in the field.

DO NOT LET AGENTS TELL YOU 1 1/2 hrs is enough. I will really try to keep a 4 to 5 hour layover in Joburg if possible. Delays happen alot on SAA.