By Kaya 959 Reporter
Comair, operators of kulula.com and British Airways, will take to the skies from 1 September.
Comair marketing executive, Brian Kitchin, said the airline temporarily suspended services last month in response to the implementation of an adjusted Level 4 lockdown, the prohibition of all non-essential travel in and out of Gauteng and low demand for air travel.
“It is now preparing its aircraft, flight and cabin crews and airport personnel to ensure a seamless restart of services,” he said.
Kitchin said during the suspension its revenue management team has been working on some new, flexible fare options to better meet customers’ differing requirements.
He added that temporarily suspending flights was the right decision while Covid-19 cases peaked and the vaccination programme gained momentum.
“It wasn’t an easy call to make because of the impact on our customers and employees, but we’ve used the time well, innovating a new fare offering, preparing for the restart and looking to re-open more routes such as Mauritius.
“Flying is what we do and we’re eager to take off again and provide South African travellers with compelling products and competitive fares,” he said.
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SAA set to resume flights
“British Airways will re-launch its Johannesburg/ Mauritius route operating two flights a week from 30 November. It plans to add a third flight in future.”
SAA has also announced that flights will resume from next month.
Two SAA planes arrive at OR Tambo International, bringing us closer to the resumption of flight operations.#FlySAA#LookUpSAA#SoonFlyingSAA@flysaa_care pic.twitter.com/aqdmv1qRXL
— SAA – South Africa (@flysaa) August 12, 2021
The airline confirmed that the first flights will commence on 23 September.
Voyager bookings and Travel Credit Voucher redemption will be available from 6 September.
“After months of diligent work, we are delighted that SAA is resuming service and we look forward to welcoming on board our loyal passengers and flying the South African flag. We continue to be a safe carrier and adhering to Covid-19 protocols,” said SAA interim CEO Thomas Kgokolo.
SAA will as an initial phase operate flights from Johannesburg to Cape Town, Accra, Kinshasa, Harare, Lusaka and Maputo. More destinations will be added to the route network as it ramps up operations in response to market conditions.
According to SAA’s board chairman, John Lamola, “since the airline came out of business rescue at the end of April 2021, DPE together with the Board, and management team have been seized with planning for the relaunching of a restructured and fit for purpose airline that South Africans can again be proud of”.
