South Africa suspends Comair’s air operator certificate

by centra
0 comments
SOUTH AFRICAN minister OF TRANSPORT FIKILE mbalula

South African Civil Aviation Authority has suspended the air operator certificate for Comair as a precautionary measure for 24 hours, effectively grounding its fleet and affecting passengers using low-cost airline Kulula as well as British Airways flights, the transport ministry said on Saturday.

Comair has since 1996 serviced local and regional routes from South Africa under the British Airways livery as part of a license agreement.

“The regulator took this decision independently, in line with its mandate to oversee aviation safety,” Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said in a statement.

The regulator, the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), said in the past month Comair had experienced safety problems ranging from “engine failures, engine malfunction and landing gear malfunctions, amongst others”.

“This is a precautionary suspension for a period of 24

COMAIR
Comair. Kulula.com and British Airways. Circa February 2019. Picture: Eric Greer. © Unknown

hours, within which the operator must demonstrate to the regulator that the risk and safety management systems are effective in managing potential hazards,” the SACAA said in a statement on its website.

“The operator has until tomorrow morning, Sunday, 13 March 2022 to meet the requirements from the regulator, failing which the approval will be suspended indefinitely, pending the satisfactory closing of the findings,” said SACAA.

On the Kulula.com website the airline said its executive team was engaging with the regulator in a bid to resolve the issue.

The airline advised all passengers booked for Saturday not to travel to the airport unless they had made a booking on an alternative carrier.

REUTERS


DO YOU HAVE A NEWS STORY OR AN OPINION FOR CENTRAL NEWS: E-mail us : newsroom@centralnews.co.za or Whatsapp us on 083 398 9119

Related Articles

Leave a Comment

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept