Hilka Birns/JOHANNESBURG
South African low-cost domestic carrier Intensive Air is poised to decide on the expansion of its Fokker F28 fleet.
The move is necessitated by the 85% load factors it is achieving on flights between Johannesburg and Cape Town, says owner Dr Kobus Louw.
"We're losing passengers because of high load factors. We need more capacity to serve the route and to manage our charter and leasing side, which represents 80% of our actual business," he explains.
The Fokker aircraft are used on daily (except Saturdays) flights between Johannesburg and Cape Town and for weekend roundtrips between Johannesburg and Durban. Intensive Air also charters three ex-Scandinavian Airlines F28 Mk4000s to Air Botswana for use on the Johannesburg-Maun-Victora Falls-Kasane routes.
The airline, which has been discussing its fleet expansion options with Boeing, Airbus and Safair, is initially focusing on second-hand aircraft because it is concerned that investment in new equipment would pose a heavy burden on its no-frills operation. Types under consideration include the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 and Boeing MD-80, with new Boeing 717s a possibility later.
"Boeing has advised us to stay with regional aircraft, which means that Airbus won't be able to help us. It may be prudent to get involved with Boeing in the light of their prominence in sub-Sahara Africa and to get the service and aircraft through Safair," says Louw.
The only DC-9s available through Safair are ex-Sun Air aircraft, and their use would place "a tremendous maintenance burden on new owners" says Louw.
Instead, the airline may consider buying more ex-SAS F28s or two F28s from Air Namibia (ex- Kalahari Express).
Source: Flight International
