All South African Airways articles – Page 4
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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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In depthCoronavirus 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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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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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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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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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 ...
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NewsSAA rescuers given deadline to deliver business plan
South African Airways’ rescue practitioners have been instructed to produce a formal business plan for airline within 25 days, after a parliamentary standing committee expressed dissatisfaction with a draft publication. The standing committee on public accounts is also seeking a full schedule of fees from the practitioners, their advisers, and ...
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NewsSAA practitioners spent R10bn during five-month rescue effort
South African Airways’ business rescue practitioners spent R9.9 billion ($532 million) in the five months after they were called upon to try to save the loss-making airline. Testifying by video link to a parliamentary committee on 15 May, practitioner Siviwe Dongwana stated that the sum was used between 5 December ...
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NewsSAA defies shutdown as unions claim labour court victory
South African Airways is to continue conducting services for the time being, defying the 8 May date for cessation of operations given by the airline’s business rescue practitioners Unions are claiming a Labour Court victory after they brought a case to halt a retrenchment process for the carrier’s personnel. SAA ...
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NewsSAA on brink as government scrambles to defer ‘drop dead’ date
South Africa’s government is urgently trying to extend the period of operations for South African Airways after the carrier’s business rescue practitioners warned that 8 May would amount to a “drop dead” day when all flights would cease. The country’s public enterprises minister, Pravin Gordhan, outlined to a parliamentary committee ...
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NewsOpposition heaps scorn on detail-light plan for SAA transformation
South Africa’s political opposition is insisting the government detail an agreement with South African Airways unions setting out plans to establish a successor to the crumbling flag-carrier. In a response accusing the department of public enterprises of undermining SAA’s business rescue practitioners, the Democratic Alliance says it will seek a ...
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AnalysisHow would SAA collapse affect South Africa’s airline connectivity?
If South African Airways fails to find a way through its current funding crisis, it could leave a big hole in its home country’s connectivity, depending on which routes are considered viable as coronavirus restrictions are lifted.
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PodcastAirline Business podcast: What will industry look like when flying restarts?
With talk in some regions turning to how airline markets might open up again as coronavirus cases peak, Graham and Lewis examine the current state of the industry and where it might be heading. Among the topics considered, they look at Virgin Australia’s demise and the moral hazard faced by ...
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NewsSouth African government presses unions for concessions to rebuild SAA
South Africa’s government is pressing unions to avert a collapse of South African Airways and ensure that the business rescue strategy results in the emergence of a more competitive carrier. It has asked unions to submit proposals on restructuring the carrier and, in particular, details on the future of jobs. ...
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AnalysisCoronavirus crisis threatens to push South African carriers over the edge
While the coronavirus pandemic has had a wide-ranging impact across African carriers, the timing of the crisis has been particularly calamitous for South Africa’s struggling airline sector.
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NewsSouth African Airways acting chief takes early retirement
South African Airways acting chief executive Zuks Ramasia will retire on 14 April, less than a year after assuming the position.
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NewsSouth African Airways suspends all international services
South African Airways is immediately cancelling all international services until the end of May.
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NewsSAA launches airline-wide consultation on job cuts
Administrators for South African Airways have launched a consultation covering its almost 5,000 staff members on job cuts as it bids to restructure its workforce for a slimmed-down operation.