From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report. World airlines today face significant challenges from the global economy, but also opportunities created by the introduction of new generation aircraft. British Airways is no exception. Keith Campbell reports.

Keith Campbell:
United Kingdom-based British Airways, or BA, is introducing the Airbus A380 Superjumbo airliner on its Johannesburg route. The formal launch of this service brought BA Managing Director for Brands and Customer Experience, Frank van der Post, to Johannesburg, where I asked him about the challenges facing the global airline industry.

BA MD for Brands and Customer Experience Frank van der Post

Keith Campbell:
Van der Post explains the role of the Airbus A380 in the company’s global strategy.

Frank van der Post

Keith Campbell:
How important are its South African routes to British Airways?

Frank van der Post

Shannon de Ryhove:
Other news making headlines this week: ArcelorMittal will review its mining strategy; An effective universal climate change agreement needs cooperation; And, a carbon footprinting guide will help deal with an ‘increasingly challenging world’.

Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa reports that protracted shareholder negotiations have been the main cause of a delay in it progressing with plans for a greenfields Northern Cape iron-ore mine.

AMSA CEO nonkululeko Nyembezi-Heita

The input of cities is needed for the universal climate change agreement, which is currently being drafted, to be effective, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change executive secretary Christiana Figueres said at the recent C40 Summit, in Johannesburg.

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change executive secretary Christiana Figueres

Banking group Nedbank, in partnership with the Stellenbosch University's Sustainability Institute, recently launched a carbon footprinting guide aimed at advancing the control, reduction and measurement of carbon footprints in South Africa.

Nedbank chief governance and compliance officer Thabani Jali

That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy.