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Cape Town - Aircraft manufacturer Airbus says South African Airways (SAA) was planning to lease and not purchase aircraft - as indicated by Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba in his budget vote speech delivered in parliament on Wednesday.
Gigaba spoke about the renewal of the SAA fleet needed to replace long- and medium-range passenger aircraft.
"We commenced with the fleet renewal plan at SAA with the acquisition of the Airbus A300-200 long-range aircraft. Between 2011 and 2015, we will acquire 25 additional aircraft of varying ranges which we will use for long-range as well as short-range domestic and regional hauls, further to enhance SAA's fleet capacity," Gigaba said.
Airbus issued a statement correcting Gigaba's speech.
It said the new aircraft SAA had begun taking delivery of were Airbus A330-200s, not A300-200s as production of the former ceased some years ago.
"These are widebody jets which will replace the similar capacity A340-200s, which SAA has leased since 2003. The A330-200s are more cost-efficient and have greater range than the A340-200s," the Airbus statement said.
Airbus went on to say that SAA is leasing these aircraft from Irish-based lessor AirCastle, which ordered them new and to SAA's specifications.
The aircraft manufacturer also clarified the issue around the 25 new aircraft SAA is scheduled to take delivery of starting this year.
"The aircraft SAA has ordered direct from Airbus are all A320 single-aisle aircraft, which will replace the Boeing 737-800s acquired under Coleman Andrews' stewardship, and used on domestic and regional routes," the statement said.
Coleman Andrews was the CEO of SAA from 1998 to 2001.
Gigaba spoke about the renewal of the SAA fleet needed to replace long- and medium-range passenger aircraft.
"We commenced with the fleet renewal plan at SAA with the acquisition of the Airbus A300-200 long-range aircraft. Between 2011 and 2015, we will acquire 25 additional aircraft of varying ranges which we will use for long-range as well as short-range domestic and regional hauls, further to enhance SAA's fleet capacity," Gigaba said.
Airbus issued a statement correcting Gigaba's speech.
It said the new aircraft SAA had begun taking delivery of were Airbus A330-200s, not A300-200s as production of the former ceased some years ago.
"These are widebody jets which will replace the similar capacity A340-200s, which SAA has leased since 2003. The A330-200s are more cost-efficient and have greater range than the A340-200s," the Airbus statement said.
Airbus went on to say that SAA is leasing these aircraft from Irish-based lessor AirCastle, which ordered them new and to SAA's specifications.
The aircraft manufacturer also clarified the issue around the 25 new aircraft SAA is scheduled to take delivery of starting this year.
"The aircraft SAA has ordered direct from Airbus are all A320 single-aisle aircraft, which will replace the Boeing 737-800s acquired under Coleman Andrews' stewardship, and used on domestic and regional routes," the statement said.
Coleman Andrews was the CEO of SAA from 1998 to 2001.
