Close to 12 500 individuals have, to date, signed a Change.org petition to allow airlines in South Africa to fly during Level 4 lockdown.
The organisers are seeking 15 000 signatures on the petition, which they plan to submit to President Cyril Ramaphosa, Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula and the South African Civil Aviation Authority.
This is just one of a number of civilian-driven petitions against certain Level 4 restrictions. The petitioners write: “Commercial aviation needs to return to the skies as soon as possible. With the COVID-19 pandemic, local airlines have been grounded for an extended period of time.”
The petitioners note that this could see thousands of employees in the travel, tourism and aviation sector losing jobs.
“The spread of COVID-19 on aircraft can be mitigated by following the International Air Transport Association (Iata) recommendations,” write the petitioners, pointing out that air travel is far more regulated than public transport on the ground – which is allowed at Level 4.”
The petitioners assert that there are various sectors of the economy that rely on air transport. “Having no air transport available for the foreseeable future hampers the entire economic recovery process.”
