South African to go Nonstop JNB-JFK

[Iberia A340-600]

Starting in May 2007 South African will start to fly JNB-JFK direct without the stop in DKR. Apparently the flight will continue on the A340-300E but hopefully the A340-600 will pick up the flight if there is enough demand.

The move comes from the popular JNB-IAD flight.

Not sure if the times will stay the same but I assume the flight will arrive earlier without the stop in DKR.

[Matt Molnar]

The -300 can make it that far? I thought they have problems on the way back due to JNB's hot-high conditions?

[MarkLawrence]

They can make it direct. I have a friend that used to do that route on the old 744's that SAA has. The departure to JFK is an evening departure (7:20pm) currently. Without the stop, that will make it a later departure and it's not so hot that time of the day. A full load will use pretty much all of the 14,494' of rwy 03L/21R. The -300E is supposedly more efficient than the old 744's, so it's not out of the range. At one point, I did hear that one of the reasons for the North Africa stop was a change in dictate minimum reserves when entering the destination airspace, but I'll confirm that with my friend at SAA and see what he can find out for me on the -300E as well - I'll let you know when I get a reply....