Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa has congratulated the Department of Transport on the official opening of South Africa’s - and Africa’s - first solar-powered airport in George. Transport Minister Dipuo Peters launched the project that is spearheaded by the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) at a special ceremony in the city on Friday. Most of the airport’s en...
Citibank has cancelled a ZAR250 million (USD15 million) loan facility to South African Airways, reported The Africa Report. "We are aware that Citi has cancelled a 250 million rand facility to SAA and are working closely with SAA on the issue to make sure there's sufficient liquidity. We are unable to comment further," treasury spokeswoman Phumza Macanda said. The c...
Two women have died after a Cessna 182 crashed into the Outeniqua mountains in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, ENCA reports. The South African Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has confirmed that the aircraft crashed near Hankey. Also on board was the pilot, who was airlifted to Greenacres Hospital in Port Elzabeth and is currently in critical condition, and a small dog, who survive...
South African Airways subsidiary Mango Airlines plans to join the Star Alliance network by the third quarter of 2016 under Star’s new “Connecting Partner Model,” concept, potentially paving the way for more budget carriers to enter the 28-airline alliance. Star Alliance made the announcement at its annual Chief Executives Board meeting in Chicago on December 10. With the...
SkyWise launched an attempt to raise ZAR150 million (USD10.44 million) by selling a 50% stake in the airline. The LCC looked to sell 1,500 shares valued ZAR100 000 (USD6,961) last week, with a minimum of ten to be acquired by each investor. SkyWise was grounded this month for the second time in three months after failing to settle ZAR8 million (USD556,856) in outstanding fees to...
Star Alliance is set to expand its network reach with the launch of its Connecting Partner Model. Under this new concept, routes operated by “low-cost” and “hybrid” airlines will be able to connect to the Alliance network. This will allow customers of Star Alliance member carriers to select from an even wider choice of destinations and flights. “With this inno...
South African aviation agency officials have started their investigation into Monday’s crash of an EclipseEA500. The accident, the first fatal mishap involving the very light jet, killed the owner-pilot, 57-year-old South African businessman Kobus Dicks. When he took ownership of the aircraft in 2013, it was the first Eclipse to be registered in the African continent. The aircra...
This week Ernst and Young forensics tabled with the SAA Board, its draft report in respect of the procurement investigation at SAA. This report is the first of a number of investigations that will examine specific areas of the business that will identify reasons for the company’s unprofitable trading. The report that is currently being studied by the Board will be follow...
After weeks of speculation on the state of the airline, Skywise Airline has been suspended from operating at any Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) airports The budget airline was previously temporarily grounded over a payment dispute with ACSA and the Air Traffic and Navigation Systems. The December suspension however relates to unpaid airport charges. "Airports Company South...
South Africa's Police Service will start an investigation into the country's state-owned airline, which is facing mounting financial losses while remaining reliant on government support. "We have an investigation that we will be conducting and the SAA board has been informed," Hangwani Mulaudzi, a spokesman for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations, known as the Ha...
The Airports Company South Africa and Aviation Co-ordination Services (ACS) have renewed SITA, the global air transport IT company, as the common-use technology provider for Airports Company South Africa, extending the coverage to nine airports. Together the airports handle more than 90% of scheduled civil aviation traffic in South Africa. The new five-year contract will see SITA&rsquo...
South African Airways needs to go into business rescue to avoid liquidation. That’s the view of at least one aviation industry expert as the airline awaits the Treasury’s decision on a key aircraft leasing deal. SAA wants to restructure its aircraft deal with manufacturer Airbus. The proposal reportedly championed by chairperson Dudu Myeni is for the planes to now be leased th...
