New SAA Cargo Plane Delivered

[LazyLion]

SA Airways (SAA) Cargo on Thursday welcomed the delivery of a new Boeing 737-400 freight aircraft into its fleet.

"This can only mean good news for our customers as the bigger aircraft will provide them with extra capacity on key routes," SAA Cargo general manager Tleli Makhetha said in a statement.

The 737-400 freighter can carry between 20 and 22 tons on 10 pallets.

A Boeing 737-300 would replace the airline's current 737-200. This plane was expected to be delivered in July.

This meant SAA Cargo would then have a fleet of three 737-300s and one 737-400.

Makhetha said these new freighters would replace the "ageing fleet" and bring stability to SAA Cargo's schedule.

"We are excited about the business opportunities and will continue to ensure that we provide our customers with reliable connectivity to all key markets in the region."

New African routes would be introduced with the delivery.


Source : Sapa /aa/hdw/th/rod
Date : 06 Jun 2013 15:51

 

[grim]

Do they still fly the 747 Combi?

 

[Rosaudio]

I wouldn't really call a 737-400F 'new'

Do they still fly the 747 Combi?

No

 

[House]

Do they still fly the 747 Combi?

No

 

[Ockie]

I wouldn't really call a 737-400F 'new'

My thoughts also.

 

[ponder]

Do they still fly the 747 Combi?

SAA dropped the Combi after the Helderberg accident and they've pretty much been discontinued around the world.

 

[b@nD]

Reason

SAA dropped the Combi after the Helderberg accident and they've pretty much been discontinued around the world.

I am not going to say the Combi was specially made for SAA
but
It allowed SAA to fly around the bulge with full fuel and full load from the hot and high Jan Smuts
( when SA was refused overflight by all the states in Africa during the bad old days )

Part of the reason the land purchased for a new airfield at La Mercy lay idle for so long

 

[KhoisanX]

I am not going to say the Combi was specially made for SAA
but
It allowed SAA to fly around the bulge with full fuel and full load from the hot and high Jan Smuts
( when SA was refused overflight by all the states in Africa during the bad old days )

Part of the reason the land purchased for a new airfield at La Mercy lay idle for so long

If the normal 747-200 and the 747-200M(combi) models that SAA operated had the same maximum takeoff weight then it would be highly unlikely that combi would have better range. Especially since the cargo door and strengthened floor etc. would would have increased the aircraft's empty weight and thus reduced the maximum uplift weight.
So with same payload you'd have reduced range, or reduced payload at the same range.

Thinking of the 747SP perhaps?