sa express employee magazine
cor por a te ne ws
c o m pany ev en t s
march 2014
life skills
Human rights month @flysaexpress
facebook.com/saexpress
CONTENTS 03 04 05 06 07 08
Message from the CEO Customer Feedback New Cars for Sales ACSA Permit Rules GNSS
10 11 12 14 15
Staff Briefing Top Ten Work Values Rebates News Sudoku March Birthdays
Aviation Day
08
10 Talk to Expresso
06
Expresso 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. Please send us your favourite recipes, holiday pictures and any interesting company news. We would love to share them with everybody.
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EXPRESSO | march 2014
Dear fellow SAX employees On behalf of the SA Express Airways SOC (SAX), I’m pleased to say that the airline is the exclusive travel partner for this year’s Metro FM Music Awards. The partnership is taking place during an important year in our country. This year, SAX turns 20. Like our country, the airline was born in 1994. We will be commemorating these important milestones through a variety of activities with 50 million fellow South Africans and the hundreds of millions of friends of the new South Africa. Like South Africa, we will be taking stock of all the progress we’ve made in the last 20 years. While the last 20 years haven’t been a bed of roses, there is still plenty to celebrate. The company’s financial and operational resilience has grown. During the last two decades, this resilience has seen us weathering many storms including the turbulence of the aviation industry which has claimed scores of competitors and, most recently, the impact on the travel business occasioned by the global financial crisis. We are proud to have joined hands with Metro FM especially in support of the Annual Music Awards, a sponsorship property that has grown in leaps and bounds over the last few years. We are also pleased to sponsor an event taking place in KwaZulu-Natal. KZN is one of the markets that we’ve identified for our growth strategy. A year ago, we launched the Durban – Harare and Durban – Lusaka routes. And last November, we launched the Johannesburg – Pietermaritzburg route to add to our growing destination list. Alongside the expansion of our route network has been the increase in our engagement with various stakeholders in the province. Similarly, it is heartening to have to work together in a mutually beneficial commercial partnership with a fellow SOC. We look forward to many more years of exploring future collaboration ventures with the SABC. For now, please enjoy the SAX ride as We (continue to) Fly For You! Regards Inati
EXPRESSO | march 2014
3
customer feedback
Dear Editor nd a special I would like to se ur George yo at help he extended thanks to Leon all the effort and to help her make her r fo e ffic O t or Airp der k you very , Caroline, in or to my daughter e London SAA flight. Leon, than th to on connection much indeed. Kind regards n Evert Abendano
Dear Custom
EXPRESSO | march 2014
I travelled would like to from Harare recently an d se the help I was nd my appreciation for al l gi at Harare Airp ven after being neglecte d ort by their gr Card Holder ound staff. I an am a Silver last passenge d a wheel chair passenge r to board. r, and was th e I travel back frequently an wards and forwards to d H Bronwyn aske have always found SA Ex arare from Durban press to be ex Zimbabwe au d me to fill in a form thorities, whi of complaint cellent. ch I duly did. for the Thank you fo r the excellent help I received . Yours sincerel y Valerie Nangl e
er Care
Recently whe Cape Town an n I boarded your fligh t between emotionally. d East London, I was in di Th re had been a sh e reason for my Cape To straits wn visit ou ld er op erat to be quite tr aumatic. Wha ion which turned out the fact that t co m pounded my I am seriously problem clau that I had had at the hospita strophobic, and the MRI was l had intensifi I cordially aske ed these feel scan d the flight at ings. would be poss tendant, Mic ib le helle Greef fo r her to seat, should it so happen move me to a more comfo f, if it me be of sign rt that the pers ifi on seated ne able Michelle reac cant height or size. With xt to ted with warm ou t an y hesita I should wait th at the back of and genuine assurednes tion, had boarded. s the plane un til all of pass that engers plane wasn’t Thereafter, she explaine d fu suitable seat lly booked, she would be that because the to me. able to alloca te a Just before ta ke -o ff sh didn’t experie e showed m e to a seat w nce an here I Michelle’s ve y claustrophobic tenden for her passen ry unselfish behaviour, he cies whatsoever. gers’ feelings r ge nuine conc to assist impr and concerns essed , and her willin ern gness My deepest ap me greatly. preciation a most pleasa nt flight back to Michelle and SA Expr ess for to East London . Kind regards Widor du Toit
4
Dear Sir,
To whom it may co
ncern,
commend cerely thank and I would like to sin nesburg to an ent flight from Joh the staff on my rec and kept my iPhone for me. ht nd Gaborone who fou one, and I was extremely happy last nig My life is on that ph return flight, only to discover that my on my when I checked in the SA Express safe. our nded in and put in ha en be d ha e phon e care of us and tak u yo t ul tha u again and yo th It is just wonderf wi fly y inl ll most certa possessions. I wi nds alike. colleagues and frie u yo to nd me om rec Kind regards Lindy Barbour
company news
Sales Team Receive Branded Cars to Boost their Trade
The Head Office parking lot was abuzz with activity as the Sales Team recently collected their new SAX branded vehicles. Expresso spoke to Thuli Fihla, Divisional Manager: Sales. How did the idea come about to get company vehicles for the sales team? Our job in Sales is to maximise revenue and grow passenger numbers. To build a great sales team, you need a capable team as well as sales force support initiatives such as resources and tools that empower good decision making and increase efficiency. With the inclusion of cars, we have empowered the Sales team to focus on their core function without worrying about other external forces. How many cars did you get? There are six leased VW Polo sedans; five for Head Office and one in Cape Town. We could not have done this without the support of the company. We are really privileged to work in a company that understands the importance of the Sales team and supports us by providing us with the tools of the trade. This will drive the team to perform even harder so that the return on investment is measurable. We are truly grateful for this enormous show of support. What do you plan to achieve with the branded vehicles? The return on investment is great as we literally have a moving brand that can create a number of impressions on a daily basis. Since the sales people are constantly on the road, our brand will be more visible and recognised by the members of the public. Marketing was very much instrumental in the branding of these cars and the view was that it is a cost effective manner of getting our brand to the public. We are also excited about the potential new business that the branded vehicles will bring. How will the addition of the cars benefit the organisation? Our clients are the key source of revenue for SA Express. We need our salespeople out there to develop and nurture customer relationships – that is what drives sales. Our sales people are on the road four to five times a week. So by giving them the tools of the trade, we are empowering them to perform and increase the revenue and passenger growth. Do you think that the cars will give us a competitive advantage in the market? Most certainly. Our core functionality is retention and business development. If you look at the competitive landscape seven years ago and compare it to today, you’ll notice that there is more competition. We’ve got competition from premiums to low cost carriers, and the number of customers has grown. Plus price sensitive customers are now using other modes of transport or looking at alternative ways of fulfilling meetings. The branded vehicles bring a new element into our strategy and will make brand SA Express more visible and accessible. It is important for us to constantly look for innovative ways of enhancing our brand, as well as increasing our market share. How will you monitor that the cars are used for business? In all sales environments, teams have log books to log their travel for all customers visited; the same will be implemented for the Sales team.
EXPRESSO | march 2014
5
company news
ACSA Permit Rules ACSA is the landlord of OR Tambo International Airport and is responsible for its overall security, including access control. ACSA has signed a SLA (Service Level Agreement) with each of the companies operating at the airport. The SLA is binding on all airport stake holders. It compels all companies operating at the airport to ensure that their employees comply with ACSA rules. The SLA also addresses permit rules; therefore the following is expected from each and every SAX employee: • • • • • • • • • • • •
Wear your permit visibly at all times. Your permit must be worn at chest height. You are not to share your permit with others. Do not allow tail-gating. You are expected to cooperate if you are stopped by security in order to check your permit. You may be subjected to searches at any given time when you are airside. Obey the permit rules at all times. Do not take your cell phone to airside if you are not permitted to do so. Do not take items from airside that may lead to your permit being confiscated by security. If security is inconsistent in doing their duties at any check point, please report them to ACSA management. Do not argue with or prevent the security officers from performing their duties. SAX can and will discipline all employees who fail to adhere to the above, based on the outcome of an internal investigation.
If an ACSA permit is confiscated for one reason or another, the following procedure must be followed: • The SAX employee must immediately inform their immediate supervisor/manager. • The immediate supervisor/manager must inform SAX security department/safety department. • The SAX employee must go to the ACSA permit office and obtain an ACSA appeal form. • The SAX employee must make an appointment with the SAX Security/Safety office in order to complete the ACSA appeal form after the issue of the permit being confiscated has been investigated. • The ACSA appeal form must be completed by Security/Safety and signed off. • SAX ER/HR will become involved in the process if a disciplinary enquiry needs to be convened. • The SAX employee must appear before the ACSA disciplinary committee for return of the confiscated permit.
6
EXPRESSO | march 2014
company news
SA Express Launches its own Global Navigation Satellite System
After months’ of considerable investment, SA Express will launch the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) approach capability, which will significantly enhance the passenger experience on the newly introduced Johannesburg – Pietermaritzburg route. The new GNSS approach capability, which comes into operation this month, will enable SA Express flights to land in Pietermaritzburg smoothly under most weather conditions. Until now, flights have had to be diverted to land in, or take off from Durban during bad weather, which has caused inconvenience to our passengers. We have listened to the feedback from our passengers, and are happy to report back with good news. Since launching the route last November, SA Express has invested considerable resources – time, money and training of personnel – into procuring the GNSS technology and securing the requisite regulatory approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of South Africa. The airline can now assure all of its passengers that it has done all that it can to ensure that it complies with all applicable standards and requirements, especially safety, and that these improvements will make flying with SA Express an even more pleasant experience. The newly implemented GNSS capabilities will apply to all aircraft and offers SA Express increased capability on many existing and future routes. We look forward to offering a better and more reliable service to our valued passengers with our newly implemented GNSS capabilities. We would also like to thank all of our passengers for their feedback, patience and understanding while we were implementing these new innovations.
EXPRESSO | march 2014
7
events, people & places
SA Express Hosts Aviation Day in Ivory Park
SA Express hosted an aviation career day on 4th February as part of its “back to school” campaign to identify future pilots at Ponelopele Oracle High School in Ivory Park, Tembisa. The initiative forms part of our Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programmes. It was started last year at Fumana High School in Katlehong and targeted Grade 11 and 12 Maths and Science learners on Mandela Day. This year’s career day also afforded learners of Ivory Park a deeper understanding of the numerous career opportunities in the aviation industry. Speaking at the career day, Inati Ntshanga, SA Express CEO, said: “We are pleased to be making available the opportunities of the aviation industry to learners in Ivory Park. We are based in the City of Ekurhuleni and are committed to giving back to this community. Hopefully, through this career day, we will be able to inspire, identify and support future pilots and engineers who will shore up our strong credentials of the most transformed airline in South Africa. Our pilot complement far surpasses that of our peers and it’s through resolute commitment to training that we are now in a position to make more pilots available to sister airlines. This wouldn’t be possible if we didn’t deliberately prioritise this aspect of the business. As part of our commitment to making a difference, we will be encouraging our employees to contribute their skills and time to their communities throughout 2014.” The aviation career day signals our strong intent to create awareness of the industry among disadvantaged communities in South Africa. SA Express helps connect small and bigger cities and through identifying more pilots, it can better service these areas. The event also formed part of our commitment to supporting the Department of Basic Education’s “back to school” campaign. “This is a start of a journey in the partnership with this Ekurhuleni community and the education fraternity. We are not fly-by-nights! We are here to make a difference to the community though education. For now, this humble gesture will include distributing scientific calculators, stationery and aviation booklets to encourage learners to pursue careers in aviation. Through this gesture, we are saying: ‘We care!’ We want you to know we are not indifferent to your daily struggles,” said Mr Ntshanga. Mr Ntshanga also indicated that the involvement with the Ekurhuleni community will continue and that our CSI programme will be rolled out to other parts of the city to create awareness of aviation opportunities. “In coming months, we will further engage with this Ekurhuleni community to ensure that we continue to look for imaginative ways of identifying pilots in the area. Our aspiration is to deepen our engagement with the community of Ekurhuleni. We want to be actively involved in the lives of the people of this community. We want to be part of your success and want to grow with you.” “Our philosophy is that community upliftment is at the heart of our values and we believe real development will only come when we join hands with like-minded partners; both state and non-state actors. This is why we found Ponelopele High School an ideal partner,” concluded Ntshanga.
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EXPRESSO | march 2014
events, people & places
EXPRESSO | march 2014
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events, people & places
Staff briefing
10
EXPRESSO | march 2014
Business
The Top Ten Work Values Employers Look For If you are interested in getting ahead in your career, it’s important to know exactly what employers look for – in addition to relevant skills – when hiring and promoting employees. Research has shown that the following are the top ten values that employers look for in employees: 1. Strong Work Ethic Employers value employees who understand and possess a willingness to work hard. In addition to working hard it is also important to work smart. This means learning the most efficient way to complete tasks and finding ways to save time while completing daily assignments. 2. Dependability and Responsibility Employers value employees who come to work on time, are there when they are supposed to be, and are responsible for their actions and behaviour. Being dependable and responsible as an employee shows your employer that you value your job. 3. Possessing a Positive Attitude Employers seek employees who take the initiative and have the motivation to get the job done in a reasonable period of time without dwelling on the challenges that inevitably come up in any job. A positive attitude also makes the job more pleasant and fun to go to each day. 4. Adaptability Employers seek employees who are adaptable and flexible in completing tasks in an ever changing workplace. Being open to change and improvements provides an opportunity to complete work assignments in a more efficient manner. Adapting personal behaviours to accommodate others is part of what it takes to work effectively as a team. 5. Honesty and Integrity Employers value employees who maintain a sense of honesty and integrity above all else. When working for an employer they want to know that they can trust what you say and what you do. 6. Being Self-Motivated Employers look for employees who require little supervision and direction to get the work done in a timely and professional
manner. Once a self-motivated employee understands his/ her responsibility on the job, they will do it without any need for encouragement from others. 7. Motivated to Grow and Learn In an ever-changing workplace, employers seek employees who are interested in keeping up with new developments, learning new skills, techniques, methods, and/or theories through professional development as it helps to keep the organisation at the top of its field. Keeping up with current changes in one’s field of expertise is vital for success and increased job security. 8. Strong Self-Confidence A self-confident employee is not afraid to ask questions on topics where they feel they need more knowledge. Self-confident employees can also admit their mistakes. They recognise their strengths as well as their weaknesses and are willing to work on the latter. 9. Professionalism Employers value employees who exhibit professional behaviour at all times. Professionals look, speak, and dress accordingly to maintain an image of someone who takes pride in their behaviour and appearance. Professionals complete high quality work and are detail oriented. 10. Loyalty Employers value employees who exhibit their loyalty to the company and make an important contribution during their time with the company.
EXPRESSO | march 2014
11
travel
Rebates News The Rebates team has created a presentation to provide SAX employees with more information on our rebates system. SAX Rebate Concessions
Employee Level
ID00
ID90
ID75
Exco
5
5
Unlimited
Management / Flight Deck Crew
4
5
Unlimited
Non Management
3
5
Unlimited
Pensioners/ Widow/Widowers
1
0
Unlimited
Contractors
0
4
Unlimited
More than 10 years service
+1
+2
0
• Concessions are on an individual basis, per person • Dress code is smart casual • An SAA Rebate ticket cannot be accepted on SAX • Rebates are valid for 12 months (Jan 14 – Dec 14) with no carry over • Five working days are required for both domestic and regional travel • SAX employees qualify after three months of service • New employees qualify for induction within three months of service • Requests must be sent to vacationtravel@flyexpress.aero • Emergency requests are limited to death and hospitalisation, for staff and immediate family • Nominations are changed only in January • Dependent children up to the age of 21 years are included SAA Rebate Concessions
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Employee Level
ID00
ID90
Total
Exco
3
2
5 per person
Management / Non Management
2
2
4 per person
EXPRESSO | march 2014
travel • Concessions are on an individual basis, per person • Limited to employee’s immediate family and companion only • Dress code is smart casual • A SAX Rebate ticket cannot be accepted on SAA • Valid for 12 months (Jan 14 – Dec 14) with no carry over • No direct contact with SAA Rebates department – All requests should be channelled via SAX Rebates • Seven working days are required for both domestic and international travel • SAX Employees qualify after six months of service • Dependent children up to the age of 18 years are included Other Airlines Concessions
Airline
Minimum Service
ID TYPE
ALLOCATION PER YR
Delta
1 year
ID95 – Economy / ID50 Business Class
Unlimited
Mango
6 months
ID90 - Economy
3
All other airlines
1 year
ID90 - Economy
Unlimited
• All bookings are on standby with no upgrade to business class • Limited to immediate family only • Dress code is smart casual • No direct contact with other airlines – all requests channelled via SAX Rebates • Seven or more working days are required for both domestic and international travel • Dependent children up to the age of 18 years are included • Marriage certificate required • Mango accommodates biological parents What restrictions apply on my rebates? We do not get IDs on the following airlines: • Air Mauritius • Singapore Airlines • Qantas airlines • KLM and Air France Permanent Embargoes SAA has a permanent embargo on Johannesburg to: • Hong Kong • Beijing • Sydney • New York Temporary Embargoes Airlines may have embargoes on certain routes during their “Peak Season”, so please check with the rebates office. All Emirates rebate tickets must be issued at the Emirates offices in Sandton, where the traveller’s passport must be presented.
EXPRESSO | march 2014
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sudoku
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EXPRESSO | march 2014
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birthdays
March Name MASEMULA TQ SELEPE I MEINTJIES C GIYAPERSAD S KRAUSE GJ NAIDOO Y CALITZ M KUBHEKA NP SIKHUTSHWA T NDLOVU DB MHLONGO KN MLANGENI ES WOLFAARDT A BADENHORST JR NGWENYA KE RAMASHAMOLE MB RAMONTI DR COETZER M KGOMO KF OBERHOLZER F MDLULI CV MAHLANGU FN JOHANNES SI ENGELS D PHALA ET CALDERHEAD PA LADIELLIS P DLAMINI NN KOETAAN CC
Dept
ALLERS AL ALLANBY DB
Cabin Services Cape Town Cabin Services Cape Town Flight Operations Durban Flight Ops Flight Operations JHB Line Maintenance JHB Quality Management Technical Training Flight Operations JHB GaboroneAirport Bloemfontein Cabin Services Finance Line Maintenance JHB Occ Operations Supply Chain Management Workshops Cape Town Flight Operations Heavy Maintenance Heavy Maintenance Line Maintenance JHB Cape Town Cabin Services Cape Town Line Station Flight Operations JHB Planning Durban Flight Ops Flight Operations JHB Human Capital Crew Admin Training & Planning Marketing Brand & Production FLIGHT OPERATIONS
PRETORIUS M VAN DYK HJ
Flight Operations JHB Flight Operations JHB
BECK J MEKOA AM LOOTS D THOMAS B
Bloemfontein Bloemfontein Cargo Flight Operations JHB Gabs Office African Expan & Allianc Cape Town Cabin Services Cape Town Flight Operations Cape Town Line Station Flight Operations JHB Line Maintenance JHB PE Line Station Sales Flight Operations JHB PMO
MARTHEZE RE FERREIRA C KIESER WJ MOTSHEKGA RM KABINI JL COX PA MTSWENI GPP VAN DER MERWE E THAMAE PP
Day 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 02 02 03 03 03 03 03 03 03 04 04 04 04 05 05 05 05 06 06 06 06
NGWENYA TN MATHEBULA T REBOLA VS MAPHETO JR BUTLER BG VAN DER WESTHUIZEN JJ GOVAN B CHOTHIA A DYANI Y FINLAYSON MB MASIPA KM KEAGILE LL SITSHINGA VP VENTER RF DE BEER CE NDABENI LJL MASEKO TK MKHIZE S FISHER D RUDOLPH FG MAMATEPA TM BUITENDAGH TGH MARIVATE NV MACLOBO AM VILAKAZI MM MALOA TP SMIT N MONAMOTSANE KM STRATING H DUBE SJ
Risk and Compliance Technical Logistics Cabin Services Supply Chain Technical Cape Town Flight Operations Cape Town Flight Operations
11 11 12 12 13 13
Flight Operations JHB Technical Training Cabin Services Durban Flight Ops Revenue Managemnt Cabin Services Cabin Services George Heavy Maintenance Line Maintenance JHB Occ Operations Pietermaritzburg Information Technology Cape Town Flight Operations Supply Chain Management Flight Operations JHB Information Technology Walvis Bay Cabin Services Cabin Services Flight Operations JHB Bloemfontein Line Maintenance JHB Richards Bay
13 13 14 14 14 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 16 17 18 18 18 19 19 19 20 20 20
07 07 08 08 09 09 09 09 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 11
EXPRESSO | march 2014
15
birthdays
Name SEBOKO DR THAGAME P NALA LP VAN VUUREN JJ SAMLAL D RAOLANE K MOTEA TK MANGANYI KO PILA MM KUNENE KTC RASOOL R JADEZWENI LJ HARRIS C WESSELS SJ MASHEGO C MKENTANE NL VAN DER WESTHUYZEN E OLIVIER M NYEMBE SS MOGAKI ND KUMALO B HAASBROEK SF MODISE RM NYAWO LN RAMMUTLA T ENGELBRECHT C DEMPSTER DN RADEBE M MANTAMBO LMB ADAMS MRX MFISA SN GOWAN HN SEEMA KL MASHA PK AMOD CM MANSON BL HOLDERNESS FJ MAVUSO BS BROWN DHM MASHANGWANE MRS MAFEKA NM MABUZA JL ADAMS B MNGUNI MW BUTLER NC THERON J CLARK C MAPOSA D MPONGO SD NDIKANDIKA N SHILLINGTON TK VAN ZYL BB
Dept
Day
GaboroneAirport GaboroneAirport Airport Operations: DBN Cape Town Occ Engineering/ Costing group Heavy Maintenance Revenue Managemnt Finance Technical Training Africa Expansion & Alliances Cabin Services Cape Town Cabin Services Customer Care Flight Operations JHB Heavy Maintenance Legal George
20 20 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 22 22 22 22 22 22 23
George Occ Operations Cabin Services Cabin Services Line Maintenance PMO Sales Cabin Services Cabin Services Cape Town Line Station DBN Occ Flight Operations JHB Heavy Maintenance Planning Technical Logistics Technical Training Airport Operations: JHB Finance Cape Town Flight Operations Cape Town Flight Operations Finance Technical Executive PMO Cabin Services Information Technology Durban Cabin Services Flight Operations JHB Cabin Services Disabilities Durban Cabin Services Flight Operations Indirect Technical Training CPT Ramp Management Cape Town Flight Operations Cape Town Flight Operations
23 23 24 24 24 24 24 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 26 26 27 27 27 27 27 28 28 29 29 30 30 30 30 30 31 31 31