WHILE negotiations
are under way for
Norwegian Airlines
to begin operations between
London Gatwick and Cape
Town International Airport,
red tape and policy continue
to hinder progress on the
route.
“We believe that
connections between the
UK and South Africa are still
dominated by high fares and
a lack of competition,” a
spokesperson for Norwegian
Airlines told TNW. “While
a London Gatwick-Cape
Town service would be a
welcome addition to our
network, we continue to have
conversations with the South
African government about
the possibilities of unlocking
a future service that will
benefit consumers with more
choice, affordable fares
and a more environmentally
friendly service.”
Negotiations for the route
have stalled as a result of
South African policy, red tape
and Brexit, says Wesgro’s
Cape Town Air Access project
manager, David King.
Norwegian Airlines is
owned in Norway but has
a UK operating licence and
its base of operations is
at Gatwick. Because the
airline has majority stakes
based in Norway, the South
African government will not
recognise its UK operating
licence, David says. While
there is an agreement
that Norwegian Airlines
can connect with South
Africa from Norway, it is not
recognised as a carrier for
the UK, even though the
UK itself recognises it as
a carrier and it operates
mainly out of the UK, David
says. “The current bilateral
agreement does not allow for
carriers to operate in South
Africa from outside their
principal place of ownership.
“Right now, South Africa
is waiting for the UK
government to apply for this
exemption to be made for
Norwegian Air,” he says. This
process has been further
delayed due to Brexit and the
British government having
to review each separate
bilateral air agreement.
David says it is a shame
that Norwegian Airlines’
potential route to Cape Town
is tied up in bureaucracy
and red tape. “Connectivity
to Cape Town has increased
a lot, but there is only one
permanent carrier, British
Airways, flying this route.
Thomas Cook operates
seasonally between
November and February, but
that’s all we have.
“It would be great if there
was another operator.
Any healthy competition
between airlines is good for
consumers and Cape Town,
both in terms of access and
fares.”
Airline eyes LGW-CPT route
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