Africa – Page 28
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NewsSouth Africa’s Airlink bids to have SAA liquidated
South African carrier Airlink is attempting to disrupt plans to convene a creditors’ meeting to discuss whether to approve the rescue plan for South African Airways, and is seeking to have the airline liquidated. The government’s department of public enterprises says Airlink has filed a court motion “aimed at interdicting” ...
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NewsSAA rescue plan revises down initial heavy losses
South African Airways’ final business rescue plan considerably revises down the losses projected over the first three years for the restructured carrier. While a draft plan circulated at the beginning of June indicated losses close to R20 billion ($1.1 billion) for the period, the final plan estimates pre-tax losses of ...
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NewsSAA rescue plan sets out initial fleet and personnel requirements
South African Airways’ resurrection plan would involve an initial restart period of eight months, running to January 2021. Over this period the fleet would be gradually built up to around 26 aircraft, comprising seven long-haul jets – about half of which would be in place at the end of this ...
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NewsSA Express liquidation on hold as several potential investors emerge
Provisional liquidators of South African regional carrier SA Express are attempting to find a buyer for the airline, claiming that they are engaging with six or seven parties which have expressed interest in the company. Their effort follows court approval on 15 June to extend their powers, in order to ...
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NewsGovernment unsure over SAA plan as opposition demand carrier’s liquidation
South Africa’s government has expressed doubts as to whether the long-awaited business rescue plan for South African Airways will meet its expectations for creating a viable and sustainable national carrier. Publication of the plan has also drawn condemnation from the opposition Democratic Alliance party, which says the strategy relies on ...
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NewsLoss-making Air Namibia should be liquidated: president
Air Namibia should be liquidated, the Namibian president has declared following an address to the country, a suggestion which has met objection from unions. President Hage Geingob was answering questions in the parliament building in Windhoek after delivering his state-of-the-nation speech on 4 June. The loss-making airline had not been ...
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NewsExternal carriers should be handed repatriation services: South African opposition
South Africa’s shadow public enterprises minister is insisting that the government ease air transport pressures by allowing other operators to conduct repatriation services. Ghaleb Cachalia, from the opposition Democratic Alliance party, argues that South African Airways – which has been mired in a drawn-out business rescue process – does not ...
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NewsSAA unions force further delay to business plan publication
South African Airways’ rescuers are seeking creditors’ approval for a further postponement to the deadline for publishing a business plan for the embattled flag-carrier. The rescue practitioners have previously secured four extensions to deadlines for publishing a plan – the most recent to 8 June – since SAA entered the ...
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NewsComair to cut fleet and remain inactive until November
South African carrier Comair requires a substantial cash injection and is unlikely to resume operations until at least November. Its fleet will also be reduced to 16 aircraft, comprising 13 Boeing 737-800s and three spare 737-400s. The airline’s business rescue practitioners have outlined the situation to creditors and employee representatives. ...
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Airline BusinessCoronavirus pushes fragile African carriers closer to the edge
While no region has escaped the impact of the coronavirus grounding, arguably its most immediate damage has been felt among Africa’s already struggling carriers.
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NewsSouth African carriers urge system stress-test to speed recovery
South African carriers are urging the government to stress-test the early restoration of domestic air services, to quicken the introduction of an expanded route network. Operators have been forced to suspend services after South Africa entered a national lockdown on 26 March. The government’s coronavirus response plan entered a new ...
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NewsSAA draft rescue plan signals termination of half its fleet leases
South African Airways’ rescuers are terminating leases on nearly half the airline’s 40 leased aircraft, while those on another 15 have been undergoing renegotiation. The carrier had a fleet of 49 jets when it entered the business rescue process on 5 December last year, including nine A340-300s and -600s that ...
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NewsCongo Airways eyes expansion within Africa as competitors struggle
Congo Airways’ decision to swap orders for Embraer 175s to larger E190-E2s party reflects an effort by the company to expand on routes previously served by financially struggling competitor South African Airways (SAA).
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NewsDraft plan indicates restructured SAA would lose R20bn in first three years
Preliminary projections for a restructured South African Airways indicate the carrier would lose close to R20 billion ($1.1 billion) over the first three years, before it started turning a profit. The operation would have a fleet of 40 aircraft, according to a draft business plan obtained by the country’s political ...
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NewsSAA rescuers request time to consult on government proposals
South African Airways’ rescue practitioners are seeking an extension to the deadline for publishing a business plan for the troubled flag-carrier. Under South African legislation a business plan is normally required within 25 days of a company entering business rescue, but extensions can be granted if necessary. SAA, however, has ...
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NewsKenya Airways losses widen in 2019 on higher costs
Kenya Airways pre-tax losses deepened to KSh13 billion for the year ending December 2019 despite increasing passenger levels and revenues.
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NewsAdministrators see ‘reasonable’ prospect of SAA rescue
Business rescue practitioners at South African Airways describe as “reasonable” the prospects of rescuing the struggling carrier, though stress this is dependent on the necessary funding.
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NewsSAA rescuers pour cold water on plan to resume domestic flights
South African Airways’ plan to restart domestic flights in mid-June has been called into question by its rescuers, who have criticised the airline for releasing an “unvetted” public statement that created an “unfair expectation” among stakeholders.
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NewsSenegal receives first two KT-1 trainers
Senegal has taken delivery of its first two Korea Aerospace Industries KT-1 turboprop trainers, with an additional pair to arrive by year-end.
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NewsGovernment puts R10bn aside for SAA in medium term
South Africa’s government has provisionally set aside R3.8 billion ($212 million) for troubled flag-carrier South African Airways and another R164 million for SA Express in the current fiscal year. Department of public enterprises deputy director general Kgathatso Tlhakudi gave the figure during a 20 May presentation before the parliamentary portfolio ...