Home
FacebookSearchMenu
  • Subscribe (free)
  • Subscribe (free)
  • News
  • Features
  • TravelInfo
  • Columns
  • Community
  • Sponsored
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Advertise
    • Send Us News

Share

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • E-mail
  • Print

Taxpayers fund launch of SAA vs 2

27 Sep 2021 - by Kate Nathan
Comments | 0

SA317 took off from OR Tambo at 08h17 (a little later than the scheduled time of 08h10) on Thursday, September 23. This was the first flight for the new version of SAA. The aircraft was an A320-200.

Just two days before the relaunch of the airline, version 2, the Takatso Consortium issued a media statement clarifying that the finalisation of the consortium’s purchase of a 51% stake in the national carrier was not yet a done deal, and the relaunch had not been funded by Takatso.

The statement said the Takatso Consortium was not involved in the management, funding or relaunch of the carrier. (The DPE had set aside R500m (US$33,5m) of taxpayers’ money in capital for the restart of SAA, as a part of the business rescue process, so presumably that’s what’s paying the bills.)

Takatso says it is still negotiating with government on the share purchase agreement for 51% of SAA, which is dependent on certain approvals and pre-conditions. “Our focus now is on concluding the share purchase agreement. It’s a large and complex transaction and we anticipate that it will take some time, but there is strong commitment from both parties to ensuring the agreement is finalised,” said Takatso Consortium CEO, Gidon Novick.

Novick said: “The relaunch of the airline is separate to the engagement between Takatso and the DPE to acquire a 51% stake in SAA. We have progressed the due diligence process of SAA, which is now substantially complete, and no material issues have been identified.”

The Cape Town flights (the only domestic route of the new SAA in its initial opening phase) are scheduled for three a day on weekdays, two a day on Saturdays and three on Sundays. Regional flights are due to begin today, Monday, September 27, with daily flights to Harare, Lusaka and Maputo. This week will also see the start of three flights a week to Kinshasa and Accra.

Sign up to our mailing list and get daily news headlines and weekly features directly to your inbox free.

Alaskan cruises ‘off the table’ for SA travellers

10 Jul 2025
Comments | 0

Major expansion planned for George Airport

10 Jul 2025
Comments | 0

FlySafair expands Cape Town-Kruger network

10 Jul 2025
Comments | 0

Club Med SA nears bookings launch

10 Jul 2025
Comments | 0

Feature: Delta’s sustainability milestones

10 Jul 2025
Comments | 0

Ritz-Carlton's new yacht makes debut

10 Jul 2025
Comments | 0

Air travel round-up: EK increases Milan flights

10 Jul 2025
Comments | 0

Louis Vuitton ‘cruise ship’ makes waves in Shanghai

10 Jul 2025
Comments | 0

Latest Changes on Travelinfo (10 Jul '25)

10 Jul 2025
Comments | 0

Ireland travel skids to a halt

09 Jul 2025
Comments | 0

VFS to open one-day UK visa centre in Bloem

09 Jul 2025
Comments | 0

WTAAA study shows global shift to professional fees

09 Jul 2025
Comments | 0

SQ and MH partnership gets conditional approval

09 Jul 2025
Comments | 0
  • Load more

FeatureClick to view

New products July 2025

Poll

I don't sell cruises because...
  • © Now Media
  • Privacy Policy
  • Travel News on Facebook
  • eTNW Twitter
  • Travel News RSS
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Send Us News