AfricaStay has announced the suspension of its twice-weekly charter service between Johannesburg (JNB) and Zanzibar (ZNZ) from June 18 until July 12, the only direct flights between South Africa and the island.
The operator says the aircraft currently used to operate the service (an Airbus A320 with 174 seats) needs to undergo maintenance. AfricaStay owner and CEO, Marian Sandu said that despite the operator having tried to find another aircraft from multiple airlines and charter operators, all suitable substitutes were being deployed to re-accommodate customers affected by Comair’s recent grounding.
However, two repatriation flights will operate, on Saturday, June 18, and Tuesday, June 21. Sandu said this would ensure that customers on Zanzibar would be able to make their way home.
He said AfricaStay remained fully committed to Zanzibar as a destination and apologised unreservedly to customers. “For obvious reasons, we cannot allow clients to go on the outbound flights without knowing how they will return. We explored many, many different options, but due to current circumstances in the market, there simply is no suitable aircraft available as a substitute.”
Since September 2021, AfricaStay has operated more than 60 flights on the route.
Future bookings
AfricaStay has confirmed that one weekly frequency will resume on Saturdays, from July 16 and continue until September 17. Thereafter, the service will increase to two flights per week on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Then, in December, a third weekly flight could be added, based on demand.
Options for affected pax
AfricaStay is offering customers affected by the cancelled charter flights several options:
1) They can continue with their holiday plans, travelling out on June 18 or June 21 on the charter service. AfricaStay will assist in booking the return Zanzibar-Johannesburg ticket, at an additional cost, on one of the available scheduled airlines; or
2) Passengers due to travel between June 25 and July 12 will be offered a credit by AfricaStay to the value of the charter flights booked, towards new return flights operated by an alternative scheduled carrier; or
3) Passengers may postpone their booking and travel after July 16, 2022 subject to availability – seasonal surcharges may apply; or
4) They may cancel their vacation and receive a full refund on the air portion. AfricaStay says it is negotiating with the hotels regarding the accommodation portion; or
5) Clients may opt to receive an AfricaStay travel voucher for the current value of their holiday, which will be valid for three years from the original travel date.
Sandu said: “Our team is on standby to assist travel agents and their customers affected by the temporary suspension of the charter service.”
