COMOROS airline, Air Ylang,
is looking to launch flights
between Johannesburg and
Moroni. The airline currently
operates inter-island flights
in the Comoros.
A spokesperson told TNW
that it was still waiting for
authorisation to operate the
route, but hopes to launch
the flights within the next
few months.
The airline plans to
operate a twice-weekly
service on Mondays and
Fridays, with the possibility
of a Sunday flight also being
explored.
Airlink’s application for a
licence to operate flights to
Moroni has been approved
by the South African Air
Services Licensing Council
and the carrier also has a
Foreign Operator Permit to fly
to the destination. However,
ceo, Rodger Foster, said
the airline was looking to
operate a route that included
Mayotte, for which it is still
awaiting a Foreign Operator
Permit.
Rodger said leisure tourism
to the Comoros was not
what it used to be and, while
there was potential for this to
develop, it would take time.
“There are lots of competing
destinations. The Comoros
has been off the map for a
long time and it is going to
take a while for it to put itself
back on the map again.”
Zephnie Viljoen, director
of Perfect Destinations, told
TNW that the operator was
always excited about new
destinations being opened
up in the Indian Ocean. “The
Comoros used to be quite
popular,” she says. “If the
flights are released for sale,
we would be interested in
selling the destination.”
