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Role of International Carriers in Growing the Tourism Market. Barbara Dirnberger General Manager Malaysia Airlines Central and Southern Africa. Approximately 80% of all international arriving passengers into South Africa are carried by BARSA member airlines .
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Role of International Carriers in Growing the Tourism Market Barbara Dirnberger General Manager Malaysia Airlines Central and Southern Africa
Approximately 80% of all international arriving passengers into South Africa are carried by BARSA member airlines.
Airlines base their decisions to operate to a destination based on three key considerations: Return on investment Political interests Market Potential
Return on Investment • Local Considerations: • City: • Management and staff • Office rental • Communications • Marketing and Advertising • -Communications • Crew accommodation • Catering • Cargo management and handling • Airport: • -Landing and parking fees • -Ground handling expertise and cost • -Management and staff • -Equipment, maintenance requirements and availability • -Office rental, • -Communications • -Crew accommodation • -Catering • -Cargo management and handling • Political Stability • Aircraft availability commensurate with market demand • Bilaterals present and future • Slot times present and future • Competitive environment • Alliances • Local infrastructure • Crewing • Safety and Security • Domestic and Regional Network • Local Aircraft servicing, maintenance, parts • Insurances and Liabilities Costs
Return on Investment • Revenue: • Fluctuating currencies • Internationally traded currencies • Yields per passenger flown • Local strategic partnerships Revenue
Impact of Online International Service: South Africa – Buenos Aires
Brief • Initiated operations between Malaysia and South Africa October 1992 • Launched South Africa to Argentina service March 1994 • One cessation of service from FEB-MAY 2002 – due 9/11 • Opened one office with 7 staff compliment and is now 36 staff with offices in JNB, CPT and DUR • Initial operating aircraft a DC10, then MD11 and now 747 and 777’s. • Frequency remains two times a week with very high load factors.
Resulting conditions due to the freedom and ease of transport between the two countries: • Permanent populations in origin/destination countries • Increased economic trade, currently USD1billion between Argentina and South Africa. • Due to relaxed tourist visa requirements (none for 90 day visit), two major tourism developments: • VFR supporting restaurants, retail and local attractions • Independent and Package Tours supporting above as well as hotels and indigenous cultural industries
Resulting benefits: • Increased Regional development and activity: • The route carries a substantial uplift of passengers from regional Asian countries: China, Indonesia, Vietnam as well as regional Latin American countries: Chile, Brazil, Uruguay, as well as regional African countries: Namibia, Botswana, Zambia • Increased Domestic development and activity: • With the influx of tourist and business arrivals, there is increased demand on domestic flights and this in turn accelerates the demand for frequencies by local carriers, including LCCs.
Summary • International Air Service is a complex business of government interests and market driven economies • Resulting industries are enormous in scope and proven beneficial to receiving communities • Direct International Air Service should be encouraged and facilitated by all parties: Airports, Governments (Transport, Tourism), Airlines.