Business as usual at Airlink

SA Airlink yesterday denied allegations it would not be covered by an operating licence at the end of this month because it was allegedly “experiencing challenges” in its emergency application with the Domestic Air Services Licensing Council.

Media reports yesterday said SA Airlink may be operating without a licence at the end of September.

Business Day reported that “a top regional airline association has written to transport minister Joe Maswanganyi, urging him to act on the state if uncertainty stunting the leadership, as well as the status, of SA Airlink”.

But SA Airlink said its licences to operate SA and international scheduled air transport services was valid and in place. It reassured the markets its regular flights were operating normally.

Chief executive and managing director Rodger Foster said the Business Day a “factually inaccurate” report.

Foster said Airlink operates safe, reliable and efficient services within South Africa and also to destinations throughout the region, in strict compliance with all regulations and legal requirements.

“The false impression created by the article has raised unnecessary and unfounded concerns about Airlink’s status across the travel market, the air transport industry and allied sectors, including banks and underwriters,” Foster said.

“I give everyone my full and unequivocal assurance that it is business as usual.”

SA Airlink operates as a regional feeder airline system which is a component of a large composite network airline transportation system that includes the component systems of South African Airways and South African Express Airways. – ANA carried