s a e x p r e s s e m p l o y e e m a g a z i n e | j u l y 2014

The Vaal Reef Expo

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08 SA Express Steals the Show at the Vaal ReefTelematicsandCareerExpo

10 MakingSAExpressaGreenerAirline

11 SAExpressCargo–FlyingforYou

12 WordSearch

03 CEOLetter

04 SAExpressTravelAgentAwards

05 TravelDocumentWorkshopinLubumbashi

06 SAExpressatMacufe

07 CSI:2014SAWIAGFPAAviationandSpaceCamp

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contents

Talk to ExpressoExpresso is all about you. We want to know what you think, what you’re doing and what you’d like to share with the rest of SAX. Send your input to CComms@flyexpress.aero.

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DearColleagues

Weare fast approaching the festive season,

the busiest travel season of the year, as

well as the end of 2014. Let’s reflect on the

successes of the year and how we are aligning

ourorganisationwithgreatCSI initiatives. Inthis

editionofExpresso,welookatthegreateventswe

havetakenpartinduringtheyear,aswellasother

innovationsthatSAExpressisundertaking.Itistruethatweareexperiencingsomechallenges,

but these are not deterring us from moving forward and striving

hardertoensurethatwecontinuetodevelopastableandsustainable

brand.Wewillemergestrongerinthenewyearwiththeleadershipof

greatmanagement.Thankyouforyourcontinuedhardworkandforprovidingstellar

servicetoourcustomers.RestassuredthatSAExpresswillcontinue

toproudlyimplementitsmandateofconnectingsecondarymarkets

withkeyhubs.Theairlinewillcontinueto“Fly forYou”and itwill

overcometheseturbulenttimes.EnjoyreadingthiseditionofExpresso. SincerelyInati

3expresso | november 2014

ceo Letter

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sA express trAveL Agent AwArds

sALes AwArds

Travel agents are the bedrock of our business; 78 % of our business is derived from travel agents and the remaining 22 % from direct channels. It would therefore be folly not to show our appreciation to our primary source of revenue.

“As we celebrate our 20th birthday, we also need to acknowledge the support of the top twenty travel agents who have supported us during the financial year that ended on 31st March 2014,” explained Ms Thuli Fihla, Divisional Manger of Sales at SA Express.

There were 18 winners of the 20 awards, with Travel with Flair being the big winner as they scooped two of the awards. Their first and most prestigious award was The Overall Biggest Supplier of Clients award, while their Cape Town branch placed 15th on the list of top 20 winners. It was yet another feather in the cap for this internationally renowned travel agency whose evolution fits the narrative of a fairytale.

Ms. Johanna Mukoki, MD of Travel with Flair, is a native

of Soweto and was born into a family of modest means. Upon completing high school, she enrolled at Rhodes University where she studied a B.Com degree. She then completed her articles at KPMG and Aiken & Peat. After completing her studies, she received numerous well-paying offers to work for various accounting firms. She rejected all of these offers, instead opting to start her own venture. In 1996, she met Robert Wilke and Tibor Zsadanyi, and the trio started Travel with Flair.

From one branch in Pretoria, Travel with Flair has expanded to several branches across the country with over 500 employees on their books. It was the first travel agency in South Africa to have SMS confirmation, and e-confirmation as well as to email boarding passes to clients. The accolades they recently received from SA Express are an acknowledgement of their astuteness, and based on their track record, it would be safe to bet that it won’t be the last time they receive such an acknowledgement.

Top 20 Travel Agents1. Travel with Flair 2. Club Travel3. TravelStart Online Travel 4. Duma Travel 5. Flight Centre6. Tourvest Holdings7. Nexus Travel8. Flight Centre9. Etravel10. Carlson Wagonlit Travel11. Rennies Online e-Centre12. Tourism Investment Corp LTD13. Wings Corporate Travel14. Thompsons Travel15. Travel with Flair – Cape Town16. HRG Rennies Greenacres17. Magic Travel18. Aloe Travel19. HRG Rennies KZN20. Mitcelles Travel Agency (PTY) Ltd

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The sudden rise in the number of visa infringements onour regional routes has prompted the Acting DM of AirportOperation,MsSindiswaKhoza,toconductworkshopsinorderto curb visa fines which have a huge financial bearing at a€5,000penaltyperinfringement.AstheLubumbashi(FBM)routeisthehighestcollector,itwas

naturalthattheworkshopswerelaunchedonthatroute.Typically, airlinesare facedwithfines if they fail toproperly

verify passengers’ credentials. Approximately 30 passengers’travelswere interruptedat FBMandORTIA airportsbetween2011and2014,forreasonsincluding:• Falsedocumentation• Criminalconviction• SimplynothavingavalidvisaSome of these visa fines have been disputed successfully.

However, Ms Khoza is of the view that these penalties areavoidable, as these are controllable human factors. SouthAfrican andCongolese authorities are then forced to process

thefailedentrants,andtheairlinefined€5,000perpassenger.Over and above that, the accommodation costs for the

InadmissiblePassenger(INAD)atORTIAarethreemealsperdayandAnalyticalRiskManagement(ARM)personnelsupervisionisnolessthanR800perpassengerperday.Government has introduced legislation which requires

airlines to properly check passengers’ documentationbeforeallowingthemtoboardtheplane.Failuretodosowillresultinafine,henceitwasparamountthattheworkshopincludealltherelevantstakeholders,includingASEMSalesManagerMartinTambwe(FBMGroundHandlers);staffandtheir top management; the Consulate General of SouthAfrica; Nomazizi Beija the Vice Consulate in Lubumbashi,andDGMVictorKapumba.Theworkshopwasveryfruitful,withchallengesaddressedhead

on.Obviouslyacontinuousimprovementandstrengtheningofrelationshipsprovidesaddedvaluefortheairline.AfollowupworkshopinJohannesburgisalsoplannedsoon.

trAveL document workshop in LubumbAshi

6 expresso | november 20146

sA express At mAcufe

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The Mangaung African Cultural Festival (MACUFE) was launched by the Free State Provincial Government in 1997. Since its launch, MACUFE has become one of the biggest cultural festivals on the African continent, and has garnered much international acclaim. This year’s theme was Ya lla melodi ya tokoloho, which means “the sweet melody of freedom”.

SA Express was a proud sponsor of the festivities and carried over 80 passengers travelling on non-stop flights to Bloemfontein and back to their homes over a ten day period. Bloemfontein station staff played a huge role in ensuring the safe arrival of passengers. They also offered warm welcomes and assisted the marketing team in setting up branding all over the main

stadium event venue.On Saturday, 11th October, the day of the main

festival, staff in attendance played host to VIP guests in the SA Express marquee. They enjoyed performances from artists like Oliver Mtukudzi, Thandiswa Mazwai, Mafikizolo, Ringo Madlingozi, USA artists Chantay Savage and Chrisette Michele, and many more.

Although the weather refused to play along, it did not dampen the spirit of crowd, but only fuelled the enjoyment of the day’s events.

Thank you to SA Express staff for their continued support, and special thanks to the Bloemfontein station staff members who did an outstanding job in hosting all the travellers.

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The Southern AfricanWomen in Aviation and AerospaceIndustry (SAWIA) is an organisation dedicated to theempowerment of women in the aviation and aerospaceindustry in the Southern African Development Community(SADC) region. SAWIA is a forum that creates access tomoreexperienced industryprofessionals,affordingaspiringaviatrixthechancetoexchangeideas,networkanddeveloprelationshipscrucial tocareer success. It alsoaspires tobethe primary network for established and aspiring femaleaviationprofessionalsintheregion.InOctober,SAWIAhostedtheGirl

Fly Programme in Africa’s (GFPA)annual Aviation & Space Camp for100 learners. SAExpress sponsoredreturn flights for eight learnersfrom Kimberley to participate inthecampwhichtookplaceatKonka inMuldersdrift.GFPA is an information and skills

developmenteducationprogrammefor high school learners who havean interest in the aviation andaerospace industry. The educationprogramme is designed to exposeyoung women (and the public) toa world of opportunities, whilehighlighting the achievements ofwomeninaviationandaerospace.During thecamp, from6th to11th

October, the girls were exposedto aviation in the form of buildingand flying delta darts and modelaircraft. They were hosted byvarious aviation organisations atOR Tambo International Airport for

anintroductiontotheoperationsofaviation.Theyalsohadto conduct research on a space theme andpresent this tothewholegroup.ThefinaldayofthecampwasspentattheSouth African National Space Academy (SANSA) as part ofSpaceWeek2014.This initiative showed how much SA Express and the

event’sothersponsorscareaboutdevelopingyouthinterestinaviation,andmotivatedthemtostayoncourseinpursuingthiscareer.

csi: 2014 sAwiA gfpA AviAtion And spAce cAmp

8 expresso | november 2014

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sA express steALs the show At the vAAL reef teLemAtics And cAreer expo

On Friday, 17th October, SA Express participated in the Vaal Reef Telematics and Career Expo in Klerkdorp hosted by Denel. The Expo targeted about 2,068 learners – particularly those studying mathematics and physical science – from Vaal Reef Technical High School, as well as schools in the surrounding areas.

The objective of the day was to deliver the telematics system

to Vaal Reef Technical High School, contributing towards their vision of “a centre for excellence for mathematics and physical science”, while incorporating technical training. This was also a showcase of the Department of Social Enterprises (DPE), and highlighted the commitment by state owned companies (SOC) to support the improvement of South Africa’s quality of education.

9expresso | november 2014

The day’s programme was jam packed with music from the school’s choir, dancing (traditional and gumboot) as well as speeches from the panel of dignitaries from Denel, the Department of Education, Stats SA, the local mayor, the school’s principal, an Anglo American representative and a keynote address from the Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises, Mr Bulelani Gratitude Magwanishe.

The Deputy Minister highlighted the importance of education and said, “Employers in the private sector and state owned companies have agreed to take on more apprentices, learners and interns and to take them beyond their operational means. The Department of Public Enterprises, in partnership with seven of its SOCs, is organising career and youth expos as part of our communication plan to educate the public about the role that SOCs play in their daily lives. Moreover the critical role SOCs play in the development of the South African economy.”

The highlight of the day was the overwhelming cheer for the motivational talks given by the recipients of the internship, bursary and cadet programmes of the various SOCs. SA Express Junior First Officer, Moabi Ntlhaile, a Klerksdorp native, and Cadet Pilot, Kearabetswe Tshoke, stole the show when they got on stage to impart their

knowledge and to tell learners about their journeys through the cadet pilot programme.

The MC, the delegates and the students were impressed by the eloquent way in which the cadets expressed themselves.

“It really meant a lot to speak to the youth and to see their admiration for what we do. Giving back after being given the opportunity of a lifetime really makes sense,” says Kearabetswe.

A big part of the day, was when Moabi and Kearabetswe got on the SAA simulation truck “Vulindlela” and explained the flight control panel to the Deputy Minister. They then spent the greater part of the day answering questions from curious learners who are interested in pursuing a career in aviation.

“Spending my day in my home town and motivating learners about flying was really special for me. I’m proud to stand in front of students and also get them excited about flying,” says Moabi.

The learners visited each exhibition stand and received information on the careers they can pursue. They also received goodie bags to take home. The Deputy Minister ended the day by presenting representatives from the eight schools with mathematics dictionaries as well as some sanitary items for identified students.

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SA Express has become the first airline in the country to adopt a new method of taxiing after landing that burns less fuel and cuts fuel emissions.

This simple but unusual method of using only one engine to taxi off the runway to the terminal after landing, cuts the amount of fuel burned by an average of 20 litres on every landing.

A flight from Johannesburg to Bloemfontein typically uses 1,000 litres of fuel, so saving 20 litres is a reduction of 2 %, helping SA Express to become a little greener. It’s also good for the balance sheet. Turboprop Fleet Manager, Captain Alan Macaulay, expects this simple tactic to save the airline about R5 million every year.

“The primary reasons to do it are to save fuel and to cut our carbon emissions,” says Macaulay. “We save about 20 litres of fuel every time an aircraft lands, and with the number of flights we operate per day and per year, that runs into millions of litres and reduces our carbon emissions enormously.”

SA Express operates a fleet of both jets and propeller planes. The jet engines are too high for the passengers to see, so people are probably not even aware that one engine is being switched off once the plane has landed. But there is a chance that passengers on the prop planes will notice and worry that something is wrong, Macaulay says. “On a prop plane, stopping one of the propellers is a fairly visible thing, so we want to let everyone know why we are doing it,” he says.

The new initiative is beginning to catch on around the world

after aircraft manufacturers extensively tested the single-engine taxiing technique and declared it safe. “Some other operators around the world started doing this a while ago, but we took a more conservative approach and waited for all the evidence to come in. Now the aircraft manufacturers have looked at all the risks and analysed the effect on all the components, and Bombardier, the manufacturer of our aircraft, has endorsed this programme,” Macaulay says.

SA Express has also done its own trials to make sure it works in this environment and that the crews are comfortable with the policy. “None of our rival airlines has pursued this yet, so we are proud that it makes us a greener airline. We are doing all sorts of things in an attempt to save fuel, and this is one new change that will have a very tangible result,” Macaulay says.

Flights to Gaborone will not switch off an engine on landing, because the airport terminal is right next to the runway. “In that case there is nothing to be gained, but our flights landing in Hoedspruit, Kimberley, Bloemfontein, and Johannesburg have fairly extended taxi times, so the saving is quite significant,” Macaulay says.

No departing planes will taxi on only one engine from the airport to the runway, as the pilots have too many other things to focus on, Macaulay says. Good news for passengers is that the planes will still taxi at the same speed upon landing, so there will be no delays.

mAking sA express A greener AirLine

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SA Express is focused on reintroducing our clients and partners to our cargo division, to remind them of this particular service offering. In August and September 2014, the cargo team hosted open days at various stations in order to create awareness and to market our cargo services, as well as to explain our cargo-SAA relationship.

SA Express cargo transports dangerous goods, bulky goods and general and express cargo daily for freight forwarder companies such as Interloc, DHL, SpeedServices couriers and private individuals (walk-in

clients). We have agents onsite to assist these clients in processing these goods and to ensure that the condition of the packaging is safe and according to IATA standards.

We work in partnership with SAA in various stations and they assist us in delivering our shipments to areas where we don’t have stations. Our biggest advantage is that we offer competitive market rates which allow us to reach a variety of clients and partners.

We continue to offer all our clients value for money and stick to our value of delivering with speed without compromising on quality.

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sA express cArgo – fLying for you

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wOrd seArch

Words can go horizontally, vertically and diagonally in all eight directions. Words may overlap but do not share letters.

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