South Africa: Comair suspends all Kulula, British Airways flights! [update]

update (10 June 2022): Comair’s Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs) have lodged a court application to convert the business rescue proceedings into liquidation proceedings. The company’s employees and customers who held bookings or were owed refunds will now become creditors of Comair.

update (09 June 2022): The Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs) of Comair have announced that the requisite funding could not be raised in order for Comair to continue with its operations and that they no longer believe that there is a reasonable prospect that the Company can be rescued. The notice, which was released by the BRPs earlier today (09 June 2022), does not mention the liquidation of Comair. We'll keep you posted!

update (09 June 2022): Comair has announced that it has reached agreement with South African regional carrier Airlink to accommodate passengers holding a British Airways (operated by Comair) flight for travel 07 – 12 June 2022. British Airways (operated by Comair) customers impacted by the temporary suspension of Comair services for the period have the option to rebook with Airlink at no additional cost, subject to availability. British Airways has also arranged for any of its international customers who had booked regional or domestic connecting flights with Comair, to be reaccommodated on South African Airways (SAA). Meanwhile kulula.com has confirmed that any customers who booked tickets on its sale prior to flights being suspended will be refunded by the end of this week. We'll keep you posted!

South African airline Comair, which operates the low-cost kulula brand and a local franchise of British Airways, has announced on Tuesday evening (31 May 2022) that it is obliged to voluntarily suspend all scheduled flights from 01 June 2022 until further notice pending successfully securing additional funding. Ticket sales have also stopped with immediate effect. The company’s business rescue practitioners (BRPs) have advised that the process to raise the necessary capital is in progress and that there is reason to believe such funding may be secured. Once received, Comair will be able to recommence operations. We'll keep you posted!

• for customers on British Airways (operated by Comair) flights, British Airways’ booking with confidence policy will apply.
• kulula customers on suspended flights have the option of a Travel Bank credit or can request a full refund of their ticket value. The Travel Bank credit can be used by the passenger or someone else. 

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South Africa: Comair suspension lifted, Kulula and British Airways flights to resume!

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has uplifted the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) of Comair (Pty) Ltd. with immediate effect. This brings to an end a five-day long suspension of the AOC which was imposed by SACAA from 12 March 2022. The SACAA audited Comair (Pty) Ltd. following a spate of occurrences that posed safety risks by kulula and British Airways (operated by Comair in South Africa) airlines, which resulted in a temporary suspension of the AOC. British Airways (operated by Comair in South Africa) and kulula flights will start operating again from today (17 March 2022). The airline's schedules will be restored in a phased manner, and customers are advised to check the schedules on the British Airways' and kulula's websites before going to the airport. 

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South Africa: British Airways and Kulula flights are currently grounded! [update]

update (13 March 2022): Following the 24 hour precautionary suspension of Comair (Pty) Ltd.'s Air Operator Certificate (AOC), the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has confirmed that the AOC is now indefinitely suspended. According to SACAA, Comair has not adequately addressed all the necessary safety issues. We'll keep you posted!

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) earlier today suspended the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) of Comair (Pty) Ltd. This affects all British Airways (operated by Comair) and kulula.com flights. According to a media statement by SACAA, this is a precautionary suspension for a period of 24 hours, within which Comair must demonstrate to SACAA that the risk and safety management systems are effective in managing potential hazards. Three of Comair's planes have been involved in mid-air emergencies in the last month. We'll keep you posted!

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South Africa: Kulula launches double-daily service between Cape Town and Durban!

South African low-cost airline kulula has announced that it has fully restored its pre-COVID route network with the re-launch of a double-daily service between Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town and King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban. In the case of the Cape Town and Durban service, capacity has actually increased, says Desmond O'Connor, kulula Chief Commercial Officer. Pre-COVID, the airline operated one flight per day on the route. Daily Cape Town <> Durban flight times are as follows :

• Cape Town > Durban operates at 07:00 and 11:45
• Durban > Cape Town operates at 13h20 and 18h25
  

According to Desmond O'Connor, this is a highly popular route, particularly over weekends and school holidays. Kulula currently has over 10,000 passengers booked in November and over 3,000 for December already.

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South Africa: Kulula re-introduces flights between Johannesburg <> East London!

South African low-cost airline kulula has announced the re-introduction of its non-stop service between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and King Phalo Airport (formely known as East London Airport; ELS) in East London. Effective 04 September 2021, kulula will offer two weekly flights on Saturdays or Sundays. Flights will depart Johannesburg at 07:30 and arrive in East London at 09:00 while the return flights will depart East London at 09:40 and arrive in Johannesburg at 11:10.

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South Africa: Comair to re-start kulula and British Airways flights!

South African airline Comair, which operates the low-cost kulula brand and a local franchise of British Airways, has announced that it will be back in the skies again from 01 September 2021 as planned. The airline temporarily suspended operations on 05 July 2021 in response to the implementation of an adjusted Level 4 lockdown in South Africa, the prohibition of all non-essential travel in and out of Gauteng and low demand for air travel. During the suspension the services, the airline has developed some new, flexible fare options for its kulula brand to better meet customers’ differing requirements. Called Travel Your Way the three bundled kulula fare offerings allow customers to pay only for what they need. They are:

• Fly Light: A hop-on, hop-off option for those with only cabin bags offering the best possible fares. A change of booking fee of R299 applies.
• Pack & Go: An all-round option to suit most traveller’s needs including one piece of checked luggage weighing up to 20kg and two free booking changes.
• Fully Loaded: A fully flexible option allowing unlimited booking changes, two checked bags and Q-Jump to speed-up check-in procedures.

British Airways (operated by Comair) will re-launch it’s Johannesburg <> Mauritius route operating two flights a week from 30 November 2021. It plans to add a third flight in future.

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Covid-19: Comair extends the temporary suspension of all Kulula and British Airways flights in South Africa! [update]

update (20 August 2021): According to Comair's business rescue practioners (the airline entered into voluntary business rescue proceedings on 05 May 2020 in order to safeguard the company and its stakeholders), the arline is still planning to restart operations in September 2021.

Following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that South Africa will remain on an adjusted level 4 lockdown for at least the next two weeks, South African airline Comair, which operates the low-cost kulula brand and a local franchise of British Airways, has announced that it will extend the suspension of services until 31 August 2021. The airline, which temporarily suspended operations on 05 July 2021, initially planned to resume flights from 30 July 2021. Given the uncertainty of the expected length of the recently adjusted level 4 lockdown in South Africa, restriction of travel in and out of Gauteng coupled with the rampant transmissibility of the Covid-19 "Delta" variant, the airline now decided to extend the suspension of services by one month and plans to resume scheduled operations on 01 September 2021.
According to Comair tickets for travel with kulula for the period 28 June 2021 to 31 August 2021 will remain valid for 12 months until 31 August 2022. No change of booking fee or fare difference will be charged. British Airways' "Book with Confidence" policy also applies to customers holding a valid ticket for flights with British Airways operated by Comair. We'll keep you posted!

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Covid-19: Comair temporarily suspends all Kulula and British Airways flights in South Africa!

South African airline Comair, which operates the low-cost kulula brand and a local franchise of British Airways, has announced the temporary suspension of services in South Africa. The airline will cancel all flights from 05 July 2021 and aims to recommence flights from 30 July 2021, subject to regulations being eased, and Covid-19 infection rates, particularly in Gauteng, being contained. According to Comair, the impact of the new regulations in South Africa and especially the the prohibition of all non-essential travel in and out of Gauteng has led to the decision to temporarily suspend services.
The airline said kulula customers who had a valid ticket booked until 29 July 2021 will be able use their ticket within 12 months from first date of travel without any penalty. British Airways' "Book with Confidence" policy also applies to customers holding a valid ticket for flights with British Airways operated by Comair. We'll keep you posted!

South Africa: Kulula returns to Lanseria International Airport (HLA)!

South African low-cost airline Kulula[.com] has announced that it will restart its operations at Lanseria International Airport (HLA) from 01 April 2021. The airline will fly between Lanseria and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town, and Lanseria and King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban. Similar to the re-introduction of its other routes, Kulula[.com] will commence with a limited schedule, adding additional frequencies over the next couple of months. Lanseria International Airport (HLA) is situated north of Randburg and Sandton to the north west of Johannesburg. 

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South Africa: Comair is set to resume British Airways' flights!

South African airline Comair, which operates the low-cost kulula brand and a local franchise of British Airways, has today opened bookings for domestic flights with British Airways. From 09 December 2020, the airline plans to begin serving all the domestic British Airways’ routes in South Africa it previously operated. Regional services will be reintroduced as it ramps up to full operations over the next few months.
Comair already started taking new bookings for kulula on 09 Novmeber 2020 and is planning to resume kulula-operated flights on 01 December 2020.
The airline will initially operate a fleet of fifteen aircraft across both airline brands - kulula and British Airways - gradually increasing as the remainder of the fleet returns to service over the next few months.
Comair introduced the British Airways’ brand to domestic and regional routes in South Africa and Southern Africa in 1996 when it signed a franchise agreement with the UK’s largest carrier. It has been British Airways’ most successful franchise.

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South Africa: Comair is set to resume kulula flights!

South African airline Comair, which operates the low-cost kulula brand and a local franchise of British Airways, has announced that it is set to start selling flight tickets again with kulula, effective 09 November 2020 ahead of the planned 01 December 2020 take off. Comair will only be operating a limited schedule over December 2020. The schedule will include all kulula domestic routes, with the exception of Durban <> Cape Town and the all routes previously operated out of Lanseria International Airport (HLA) in Johannesburg. Customers of Comair who booked prior to 05 May 2020 for travel with Comair in December 2020 and who are affected by the new schedule will be reaccommodated and advised accordingly. Please contact Comair for further information.

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South Africa: Comair enters business rescue! [update]

update (29 August 2020): Comair's business rescue practitioners have asked for an extension until 02 September 2020 for the publication of the business rescue plan.

update (27 August 2020): According to news reports, Comair has received a R1.5bn (€75m) business rescue offer. The chosen offer from an as-yet-unnamed consortium will see the airline resume operations on 01 December 2020, the return of its former management team under former joint CEO Glenn Orsmond and the delisting of the company from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). We'll keep you posted!

update (11 August 2020): Comair has managed to secure R40m in short-term bridging finance that will enable it to meet its limited operational overheads and allow its business rescue process to continue.

update (20 May 2020): According to the business rescue practitioners of Comair, Shaun Collyer and Richard Ferguson, there's a reasonable prospect for the airline to be saved as its assets exceed its liabilities. The business rescue plan will probably be published on 09 June 2020 and the vote to approve the final plan is expected on 24 June 2020.

update (11 May 2020): Comair remains hopeful that operations will resume at or about 01 November 2020.

Comair, which operates scheduled services on domestic routes in South Africa as a British Airways franchisee and also operates as a low-cost carrier under its own kulula.com brand, just announced that it enters business rescue - South Africa's bankruptcy protection process - to safeguard the interests of the company and its stakeholders after the coronavirus pandemic disrupted the implementation of a turnaround plan. According to CEO of Comair, Wrenelle Stander, the company is facing an unprecedented situation following the nationwide lockdown in South Africa. Shaun Collyer and Richard Ferguson have been appointed as the joint business rescue practitioners with effect from 05 May 2020. Comair was granted approval to suspend the trading of its shares on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) with immediate effect. 
In terms of the lockdown in South Africa Comair was required to stop flying on 26 March 2020 and has not operated any passenger services since. Customers with existing bookings will be able to rebook flights within 12 months of their departure date. There will be no charge for any changes made before 01 November 2020. We'll keep you posted!

South Africa to phase out coronavius lockdown: Airlines have adjusted plans to resume operations! [update]

update (11 May 2020): South Africa's state-owned flag carrier, South African Airways (SAA), which has been fighting for its survival since entering a form of bankruptcy protection in December 2019, has announced that it will continue to operate repatriation and cargo flights during the month of May 2020 and beyond. [more]

update (07 May 2020): All flights, "repatriation or otherwise", operated by South African Airways (SAA) will stop on 08 May 2020. According to South Africa's Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, announced that "SAA, as it exists, will not exist into the future, partly for the reasons that it was not competitive and unviable, but also because of the whole environment – both within aviation and the economy more generally – has changed very significantly. […] Nobody can quite anticipate what air travel is going to be like even two months down the line".

update (05 May 2020): Comair enters business rescue! [more]

South Africa's Government will implement a gradual and phased recovery of economic activity from 01 May 2020 with the alert level be eased from highest level 5 to level 4. The Government has indicated that this risk-adjusted approach to the coronavirus is expected to last at least 6 - 8 months until the alert level will reach level 1. Limited domestic air travel will be permitted only from alert level 3 in special circumstances, while unristricted interprovincial travel is only permitted from lockdown level 2. 

via www.stateofthenation.gov.za/

South Africa's airlines have therefore again adjusted their planes to resume operations.  The country's flag carrier, South African Airways, as well as its subsidary Mango, have provisionally suspended all flights until 31 May 2020 and anticipate to resume services from 01 June 2020. FlySafair will suspend all scheduled operations until the travel restrictions are lifted. Comair, which operates scheduled services on domestic routes in South Africa as a British Airways franchisee and also operates as a low-cost carrier under its own kulula.com brand, has announced that flights will remain suspended for the duration of the lockdown in South Africa. Regional carrier will inform the public regarding the date or service resumption once the lockdown in South Africa has been phased out. CemAir, which will operate several repatriation flights in early May 2020, has not made any further plans public. We'll keep you posted!

South Africa's most punctual domestic airlines in March 2020!

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has published the on-time performance results of domestic airlines’ flying out of OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg, Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town, Durban's King Shaka International Airport (DUR) and Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) in Port Elizabeth in March 2020.
On-Time Performance is measured by comparing the actual off-block time (when aircraft pushes back) against the airline schedule time for a departing flight. The measurement is done in accordance with the IATA (International Airlines Transport Association) universal standard benchmark with considers a 15 minute deviation from the scheduled time as an on-time departure.

OR Tambo International Airport (JNB), Johannesburg - 15 Min on Time Performance March 2020

• Airlink - 95.51% (February 94.85%)
• FlySafair - 94.44% (February 92.16%)
• British Airways Domestic - 90.97% (February 85.77%)
• South African Airways - 87.83% (February 85.98%)
• Kulula.com - 78.77% (February 74.06%)
• Mango - 68.37% (February 74.39%)
• CemAir - 66.67% (February 70.00%)
• SA Express - 59.93% (February 64.64%)

Cape Town International Airport (CPT), Cape Town - 15 Min on Time Performance March 2020

• Airlink - 96.10% (February 94.90%)
• FlySafair - 96.03% (February 93.71%)
• British Airways Domestic - 94.19% (February 87.18%)
• South African Airways - 91.71% (February 86.18%)
• Kulula.com - 84.02% (February 82.16%)
• Mango - 76.21% (February 77.98%)
• SA Express - 75.00% (February 70.77%)
• CemAir - 63.64% (February 100.00%)

King Shaka International Airport (DUR), Durban - 15 Min on Time Performance March 2020

• South African Airways - 100.00% (February 87.28%)
• FlySafair - 92.41% (February 91.54%)
• British Airways Domestic - 89.87% (February 87.18%)
• Airlink - 89.00% (February 96.50%)
• Kulula.com - 82.36% (February 80.07%)
• Mango - 76.67% (February 83.35%)
• SA Express - 16.67% (February 33.33%)
• CemAir - 00.00% (Febuary --.--%)

Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), Port Elizabeth - 15 Min on Time Performance March 2020

• Airlink - 98.11% (February 94.89%)
• British Airways Domestic - 95.01% (February 89.81%)
• Flysafair - 94.78% (February 94.00%)
• Mango - 72.92% (February 81.03%)
• SA Express - 08.33% (February 25.00%)
• South African Airways - --.--% (February 84.91%) 

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South Africa's lockdown extension: Airlines have adjusted plans to resume operations! [update]

update (16 April 2020): Flysafair will resume operations on 01 May 2020. 

Following President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement of the extension of the countrywide lockdown in South Africa until 30 April 2020, the country's passenger airlines have adjusted their plans to resume operations. South Africa's flag carrier, South African Airways, as well as its subsidary Mango, both announced operations will remain suspended until the lockdown is lifted. Regional carrier Airlink will implement a reduced schedule from 04 May 2020, while FlySafair announced that it will announce new commencement dates in the next few days resume operations on 01 May 2020. Comair, which operates scheduled services on domestic routes in South Africa as a British Airways franchisee and also operates as a low-cost carrier under its own kulula.com brand, has announced that flights will remain suspended until 02 May 2020. Cemair made public that it expects to be flying again on 01 May 2020. We'll keep you posted!