More SAA flights prevented from leaving Zim in cross-border compliance issue

[wesheltonj]

SAA Flight Cancelled between RSA and Zimbabwe

http://www.traveller24.com/News/upd...zim-in-cross-border-compliance-issue-20170819

Cape Town - It could be a weekend of cancellation frustration for passengers travelling between SA and Zimbabwe, unless compliance issues are sorted out urgently.

South African Airways has confirmed that another SAA flight has been grounded in Zimbabwe on Saturday morning, 19 August.

- Flight SA025 from Harare to Johannesburg could not operate at 07:00.

- Flight SA022 which was scheduled to depart at 10:45 from Johannesburg to Harare has also been cancelled.

SEE: ALERT: SAA flight cancelled as aviation compliance issues between SA and Zim escalate

SAA confirmed the decision to impose the restriction emanates from the requirement from Zimbabwean authorities of a Foreign Operators Permit, from the airline to continue to operate in that country. SAA operates a total of nine flights daily to three destinations in Zimbabwe. Have you been affected - email or tweet Traveller24.

"Every effort will be made to assist all affected passengers and our recovery plans have been activated. SAA is monitoring the situation and will provide updates on a regular basis and when there are developments,” says SAA spokesperson Tlali Tlali.

SEE: What to do when your flight gets cancelled

According to a Bulawayo24 report the SAA grounding is seen as “retaliation" after the South African Civil Aviation authority prevented a Harare bound Air Zimbabwe flight from taking off from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Friday evening, 18 August due to the same reason.

SEE: South Africa leads aviation safety in Africa - ICAO

Issues of compliance - Foreign Operator's Permit

The Air Zimbabwe plane was grounded at OR Tambo international for also not having a Foreign Operator’s permit.

SA Civil Aviation spokesperson Kabelo Ledwaba confirmed to Traveller24 the Air Zimbabwe aircraft was unable to take-off due to non-compliance with South African civil aviation regulations.

As part of SACAA routine 'ramp inspections' on Friday evening, the Boeing 767-200 operated by Air Zimbabwe was” found to not be complaint with both international civil aviation standards, and Part 129 of the South African civil aviation regulations.”

Air Zimbabwe, which was blacklisted by the UK Aviation Authority in May this year due to safety concerns, does not have a Foreign Operator's Permit in order to conduct operations into, and within South Africa, the SACAA found.

SEE: EU Air Safety Blacklist: Mozambique and Benin airlines cleared as Zimbabwe carrier banned

“A copy of the Foreign Operator's Permit, together with other documents, must be on-board an aircraft at all times, and made available for inspection on request by the relevant authorities,” says Ledwaba.

SADC 'reciprocal understanding'

The Bulawayo24 report indicates, although the FOP is mandatory, “most airlines within the region operate without one, in some form of "reciprocal understanding”.

SA Airlink operations may also be caught in the crossfire as “none of the SADC based countries have national airlines which meet this requirement”, but this has not been confirmed.

fastjet spokesperson Hein Kaiser confirmed to Traveller24 that the airline's "necessary paperwork are in order" and that its operations between South Africa and Zimbabwe are operating as per normal.

"At this time fastjet flights remain unaffected," says Kaiser.

Traveller24 is trying to get clarity on the "reciprocal understanding" and has been in touch with a few regional airlines to confirm the necessary certification is in fact in place, but is awaiting more responses.

Red alert for Grace Mugabe

Robert Mugabe arrived in a similar aircraft via Waterkloof Airbase- but Mugabe’s personal airplane, operated by Air Zimbabwe, is not believed to be affected by the cancellation.

A "red-alert" has been issued by police in case Grace Mugabe attempts to cross the South African border after she allegedly assaulted a 20-year-old model in a Sandton Hotel on Sunday - which is further fuelling diplomatic tensions between the two countries - Read News24's latest report here.

Irrespective, business and leisure tourism between the two countries are sure to be affected by the compliance issues, with passengers being advised to keep in touch with their airlines and make alternative arrangements as necessary.

 

[wesheltonj]

The Latest:

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfr...nd-zimbabwe-20170819



SAA suspends all Saturday flights between SA and Zimbabwe

2017-08-19 18:02


Cape Town- South African National Airways (SAA) took the decision to cancel all its flights for Saturday between South Africa and Zimbabwe.

The flights affected from Johannesburg to Harare are SA 022, SA 028 and SA 024. The flights affected from Harare to Johannesburg are SA 025, SA 023 and SA 029.

Customers were told on the SAA Facebook page to contact their nearest office for rebooking.

It said it would keep people updated on the status of Sunday’s flights on that route.

SAA earlier confirmed to Traveller24 that the decision to impose the restriction emanates from the requirement from Zimbabwean authorities of a Foreign Operators Permit, from the airline to continue to operate in that country. SAA operates a total of nine flights daily to three destinations in Zimbabwe.


"Every effort will be made to assist all affected passengers and our recovery plans have been activated. SAA is monitoring the situation and will provide updates on a regular basis and when there are developments,” said SAA spokesperson Tlali Tlali.

Earlier on Saturday, Transport Minister Joe Maswanganyi said he would be meeting all aviation entities from the department to discuss the grounding of the Air Zimbabwe aircraft on Friday, allegedly due to non-compliance.

The department said the Air Zimbabwe flights' main issue was the required Foreign Operators Permit, together with other documents, which must be on-board an aircraft at all times, and made available for inspection on request by the relevant authorities.

“As a result, the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has instructed the operator not to take off until such time that there is full compliance with the applicable South African civil aviation regulations and the requisite international aviation standards as set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.”

Maswanganyi apologised for inconveniences that might have been caused to passengers, the department said.



“In the same vein, the Minister emphasised that civil aviation safety and security is critical, and all licence and permit holders operating into and within the South African airspace need to comply with the applicable international standards, and the South African civil aviation regulations.”

The Friday flight was set to take off for Harare shortly after 18:00 but was cancelled before then.

'It seems that tensions are mounting'

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace are in South Africa for a Southern African Development Community (SADC) meeting underway in Pretoria.

Mugabe’s personal airplane, operated by Air Zimbabwe, is not believed to be affected by the cancellation.

DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Finance Alf Lees however, disagreed saying the grounding of flights, between SAA and Air Zimbabwe, seemed to be due to the diplomatic impasse over the assault charges against Zimbabwean First Lady, Grace Mugabe.

“Now, it seems that tensions between Zimbabwe and South Africa are mounting, leading to airlines being grounded.”

He called on Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba to urgently address “these concerning incidents”.

“The silence from our government on the Grace Mugabe matter has been deafening. The reality is that the South African government has completely mishandled this situation, which is now affecting the operations of the national airline.”

Meanwhile, a "red-alert" was issued by police in the event that Grace attempted to cross the SA border after she allegedly assaulted a 20-year-old model in a Sandton Hotel on Sunday.

Air Zimbabwe is operated by Mugabe’s son-in-law, Simba Chikore.

In 2011, an Air Zimbabwe Boeing 767-200 was seized in London over a $1.2m debt. Later that year, a Boeing 737-500 was impounded by South African authorities after the airline failed to pay a $500 000 debt, the African Independent reported.

In April, all five Air Zimbabwe planes operating in South Africa were grounded when it was declared not airworthy.

In May, the airline was banned from flying to Europe over safety concerns.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

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[cpr0312]

No good, that would surely be unfortunate if this was your day for travel on your hunting trip to be caught up in crap like this!