SAA denies ‘snubbing’ Emirates

SAA has denied reports
that it pulled the plug
on an equity partnership
agreement with Emirates,
which could have seen more
than R2bn injected into the
ailing airline.
Sunday Times reported at
the weekend (June 21) that
after months of negotiations,
SAA chairwoman, Dudu
Myeni, and SAA acting ceo,
Nico Bezuidenhout, were set
to meet top officials from
Emirates Airline in Paris to
conclude the equity deal.
However, the chairwoman
allegedly did not arrive in
Paris and instructed Nico
not to sign the deal.
“The manner and process
in which Myeni reneged on
this agreement is bizarre
and reeks of political
interference from the highest
ranks. Parliament must be
fully briefed on what exactly
transpired in this deal falling
through,” Natasha Mazzone,
shadow minister of Public
Enterprises, said.
However, SAA spokesperson
Tlali Tlali told TNW that
there were no discussions
with any potential strategic
equity partners. He added
that SAA and Emirates had
had a codeshare relationship
for more than two decades
and the two airlines were in
conversation to deepen the
relationship on a non-binding
and mutually beneficial basis.
“While the conversation is
ongoing between management
of SAA and Emirates within
the context of the existing
relationship, and the scope
of the conversation between
the two carriers is well within
positive territory, circumstance
has thus far not allowed for
finality,” he said.
Tlali added that, as with all
relationships or engagements,
there might be “a segue in
conversation along the way
but SAA believes that its
longstanding friendship and
conversation with Emirates
will continue”You voted.