Government wastes R5 million to fly empty aeroplane to fetch vaccines

[nivek]

Its not the end of the world, pay DHL 2M and get the vaccines, or pay SAA 5M, get the vaccines, and at the same time give them a little bit of cash to pay salaries

It's better than the regular multi billion rand bailouts that come with nothing

 

[thestaggy]

Its not the end of the world, pay DHL 2M and get the vaccines, or pay SAA 5M, get the vaccines, and at the same time give them a little bit of cash to pay salaries

It's better than the regular multi billion rand bailouts that come with nothing

That money is going to be eaten by their debt.

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

piggies got to fly, maybe to stash their cash in Swiss vaults?

 

[Pineapple Smurf]

viva ANC

 

[boboudts]

Okay, I get the concerns/ complaints but what solutions were provided on the matter by the complaining or concerned party, and what are the cost implications of that solutions?

Seems it is easier to complain than offer plan B.

KLM cargo for example, operate at least 2 flights a day to from South Africa to Holland. QED

 

[RonSwanson]

My fellow citizens, there is always a reason why things are done.

Using SAA to transport COVID-19 vaccines is an important image for the country: Gordhan - SABC News

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan says his department is negotiating with SAA Business Rescue Practitioners for some of the aircraft still owned by the airline, to be used in the transportation of COVID-19 vaccines.

www.sabcnews.com

Image is everything, gotta look successful even when bankrupt. So typical of the Zuma financial sense, many like them drive a 5 series BMW cabriolet and then park it next to a shack, and then get it repossessed the following day for non-payment.

Daar's nie pille nie.

 

[nivek]

That money is going to be eaten by their debt.

thats ok too
we'll land up paying for that debt one way or the other anyway

 

[neoprema]

As long as we're bringing vaccines back I don't care if they kitted that Airbus out with an onboard club and strip joint. Just let the thing go and come back with vaccines. And pref do this on a much much larger scale.
It also gives a chance for them to fly instead of rotting in the parking.

 

[Ginad28]

If you read the article they do say it would have been a lot cheaper to load the vaccines on a regular commercial flight already bound this way.

But rather waste the money instead of using a regular commercial flight

 

[diesel]

My fellow citizens, there is always a reason why things are done.

Using SAA to transport COVID-19 vaccines is an important image for the country: Gordhan - SABC News

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan says his department is negotiating with SAA Business Rescue Practitioners for some of the aircraft still owned by the airline, to be used in the transportation of COVID-19 vaccines.

www.sabcnews.com

I guess they figured wasting money they didnt earn is better than the backlash they got when the first vaccines arrived on a emirates flight.

 

[Ginad28]

They are making a detour via Dubai and landing at Waterkloof!

Not entirely impossible

 

[Ginad28]

Looks like they returned the three A350's and their A330's. They only have the 6 A340's and the 3 A319's. So pretty much the only aircraft they have at the moment. Wow

But did they need such a huge aircraft, why not send one of the smaller ones.

 

[Ginad28]

I have to assume that Fedex could've transported a lot more for a lot cheaper.

I also assume this was purely done to have a reason to give the failing SAA more money.

But th3 powers that be don’t think logically

 

[Ginad28]

To say "Look at the strategic importance of having a national carrier. We can't let it fail."

Hahaha!!!

 

[sdrawk]

A bit dumb to not fly out with a simple cargo plane.

But then this is the South African Government we are talking about. Intelligence is not what they are about.

 

[Binary_Bark]

Typical ANC thievery

 

[HumanShield]

But did they need such a huge aircraft, why not send one of the smaller ones.

There was no need to use SAA tbh. The A340 is the biggest one they had. You can't fly at A319 to Brussels. Technically it's possible, but you're going to make a few fuel stops on the way and the cargo hold isn't that big. A340 has a big enough cargo hold, but it's main purpose is not cargo. It's passenger transport.

 

[Fulcrum29]

I agree with Grant Back, and it is without doubt a costly publicity stunt.

People should really care about this. Food parcels could have been bought with that money, oh wait...

 

[Slegdehammer67]

Perhaps this is indicative of an Empty Head Syndrome [EHS] and should be expected...?

 

[ponder]

Okay, I get the concerns/ complaints but what solutions were provided on the matter by the complaining or concerned party, and what are the cost implications of that solutions?

Seems it is easier to complain than offer plan B.

Plenty of planes in the sky. They could have put it on a passenger airline, freight airline or dedicated courier for a fraction of the costs.

This was a Gov PR exercise nothing else. Look how great we are, this is why we need to keep pumping billions into a strategic asset like SAA blah blah blah blah....