SAA, good as it is, must be scrapped

Ithink South African Airways is an excellent airline, and I think it should be scrapped. SAA is a massive drain on the SA taxpayer. It is heavily in debt and there seems no chance it can ever be financially successful. Its recent senior management has been disastrously incompetent, overpaid and probably corrupt.

But, on the operating level, it is wonderful.

Last week I flew from Cape Town to Lusaka, Zambia, via Joburg, using SAA for all flights.

As usual, they went perfectly. All were on time. The planes were clean and well-equipped. The inflight service was friendly and efficient. On the flight from Lusaka to Joburg there was some upset between two rude passengers but the SAA air hostess handled them firmly and politely.

SAA allows me to book my seats and get my boarding passes online, a marvellous benefit.

I usually fly Mango, SAA’s cheapie, but this time somebody else was paying and booked me on SAA’s full service.

Mango is better than SAA: it is cheaper and the service is better. On Mango I can be assured of a vegetarian meal whereas on SAA you have to book it beforehand, not always possible.

From Joburg to Cape Town there was no meal for me (although two hours without eating won’t cause starvation). But SAA is good, despite this.

I have been flying for over 35 years and have used many airlines around the world.

My worst experience was with Virgin, which I shall never use again. I have had bad times with British Airways. Emirates, Qatar, Air France and Lufthansa were all pretty good. I liked One Time while it lasted.

But I rate SAA as the best airline I have ever used.

I feel guilty flying it. I am painfully aware that taxpayers, mainly poorer than me, are subsidising me. I am well off and comfortable.

Why should poor people, most of whom will never fly in their lives, be forced to pay for my flights?

SAA is a huge burden on our economy. I am told it can never be economically viable even with good management. We don’t need it since there are many international airlines that can easily cater for all of our passengers.

SAA can’t be privatised because nobody would want to buy it. So it must be liquidated – scrapped – excellent though it is.