Overview of African Airlines and the Composition of their Aircraft Fleet - Case Study Example

Overview of African Airlines and the Composition of their Aircraft Fleet An analysis of the profile of some of the aircrafts composing the fleet of the African air market that could assist Airfoil to launch a sufficient marketing mix to cater for the entire market needs is perhaps necessary. In terms of the entire African profile in terms of available aircrafts in use for the market which is the target of Airfoil, representative national carriers were highlighted among the best market carriers on regional and technological fronts. Fleet analysis was carried out to generate the expectations in terms of market needs for the specific types of aircrafts across the African market. At least all African regions are represented in the analysis to give a general picture of the market since the complete information package was not forthcoming. The study did not provide detail on the distinction of the actual condition of the aircraft in terms of age and usage but it was ensured that only the active aircraft number was considered for servicing capacity. Aircraft carrier A300B2/B4 A300-600 A319 A320-200 A321-200 A330-200 A330-300 A340-200 A340-500 South African Airways 2 11 5 5 22 Egyptair 1 2 13 4 7 1 3 Royal Air Maroc 4 Air Algerie 5 Tunisair 3 4 14 Sonair Air Mauritius 2 2 6 Arik Air 2 Boeing 737 747 757 767 777 South African Airways 17 Egyptair 21 11 Royal Air Maroc 40 1 2 5 Air Algerie 22 3 Tunisair 12 1 Ethiopian Airlines 10 9 11 5 Sonair 3 Kenya Airways 9 5 4 Hewa Bora Airways 1 Buraq Air 3 1 Arik Air 13 Air Madagascar 2 1 ATR42/72 Egyptair 3 Royal Air Maroc 1 Air Algerie 11 Air Mauritius 2 Air Madagascar 3 Lockheed L-1011 TriStar Egyptair 2 Beech1900D Air Algerie 1 Sonair 14 Dash 8 Ethiopian Airlines 7 Arik Air 2 Fokker 50 Ethiopian Airlines 5 Sonair 1 Embraer 170/175 Kenya Airways 6 Table 1: Airlines’ fleet sizes (airfleets.net, 20111) From these representative airlines, it can be demonstrated that there is a range of aircrafts that the African airlines market presents to the Airfoil venture. It is perhaps worth to note the pattern in the different airlines portfolio is definitive of the financial capacity of the airline and perhaps the missing technological gap between them. Airfoil will take this advantage and act as the technological bridge for ready provision of these technologies at the most convenient prices. It is reminiscent of the nature of opportunities of growth possessed by the growing industry in Africa as the airlines catch up with the rest of the world best airlines. South African Airlines Movement South African airlines have a finer connectivity throughout Africa and the rest of the world than any other African country. Both internal and continental connectivity in South Africa are reminiscent of the growth potential that the South African economy has. However, the size of the GDP and specific national and continental transport prospects around Africa may not necessarily be represented by the performance of their current status. Among the best internal airport linkages in Africa are found in South Africa when compared with the rest of the African countries. Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg has direct flights to other cities in South Africa that have airport access such as Durban International Airport in Durban and Nelspruit Airport in Nelspruit. Another linkage from this airport is a direct route to Port Elizabeth, George and Cape Town International Airport within South Africa. Alternatively, there are direct flights to Bloemfontein and Kimberly from Oliver Tambo International Airport. Regional flights to Harare, Maputo, Antananarivo, Windhoek, Lubumbashi and Jomo Kenyatta International Airports from Oliver Tambo International Airport illustrate how the air traffic flow can be interlinked from one airport in South Africa. These traffic flows within South Africa and across Africa is also translated to major world cities for commercial and other flights, which shows how just one airport in Johannesburg can make internal, regional and global linkage a reality thereby opening up traffic servicing industry an idea whose timing has arrived (flightcentre.co.za, 2011). From Port Elizabeth Airport, there are direct flights to Cape Town International Airport and Oliver Tambo International Airport for local flights and a host of other global cities in the wider linkage. Likewise, direct connectivity is available from East London in South Africa to Oliver Tambo International Airport, Cape Town International Airport and Durban International Airport among many other regional and global cities. From Cape Town, as mentioned earlier in the study, there are a number of flight connections across internal, continental and international flights such as to Durban and Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg among many other local flights and on the global arena. In conclusion, Airfoil will encounter an easy access opportunity to local airports, regional airports as well as overseas airports which will facilitate its business in Cape Town. South Africa is perhaps one of the most strategically placed locations for conducting business in Africa due to efficiency in airline connectivity as illustrated above. Transportation of raw materials as well as distribution of finished products to various airports as guided by the fleet specifications above can be performed better in South Africa than in many other locations in Africa and outside Africa as well. “Flights Departing from Johannesburg,” 2011, Retrieved from: www.flightcentre.co.za/flights/flight-deals.jsp “South African Airways Fleets,” 2011, Retrieved from: http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/South%20African%20Airways.htm Read More