Friday, March 29, 2024

South African Airways ends flights to Ndola

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The South African Airways (SAA) will cease all its flights to Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola effective end of this month.

The flight schedule for February remains unchanged though.

The move is part of South Africa’s official flag carrier’s restructuring plan intended to support the airline’s transformation into a sustainable and profitable business.

“On 29th February, SAA will close the following regional and international services from Johannesburg to Ndola, Abidjan via Accra, Entebbe, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Luanda and Munich and Sao Paulo,” the joint Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs) of SAA announced yesterday in a press statement published on the company website.

On the other hand, the airline has retained some regional services including flights from Johannesburg to Lusaka, Blantyre, Dar es Salaam, Harare, Kinshasa, Lagos, Lilongwe, Maputo, Mauritius, Nairobi, Victoria Falls, Livingston, and Windhoek.

“The initiatives we are taking now will strengthen SAA’s business. We believe that this should provide reassurance to our loyal customers that SAA is moving in the right direction. We are focused on our mandate to restore SAA’s commercial health and create an airline that South Africans will be proud of,” the BRPs stated further, according to the statement.

“In line with SAA’s commitment to take urgent action to conserve cash, and create a viable platform for a successful future, key measures need to be implemented now,” the statement reads, adding that these measures include targeted changes to the route network, deployment of more fuel-efficient aircraft and optimisation of organisational structures.

Similarly, the airline has cancelled all other domestic destinations, including Durban, East London, and Port Elizabeth, which will also cease operation by SAA on February 29.

Domestic routes operated by Mango will not be affected.

However, the airline will continue to serve Cape Town on a reduced basis.

“All customers booked on any cancelled international and regional routes will receive a full refund. Customers booked on cancelled domestic flights will be re-accommodated on services operated by Mango,” the statement reads further.

“SAA does not intend to make any further significant network changes. And passengers and travel agents can, therefore, feel confident about booking future travel with South African Airways,” the airline added.

The flight schedule for February remains unchanged and customers have been advised to consult the website for further information.

13 COMMENTS

  1. They should have considered flying to Solwezi weekly instead of Ndola. There are many South Africans working in North Western province who can support the airline. Last time I was at Ndola only 9 passengers arrived by SAA. Alternatively, they can partner with local airlines like ProFlight to carry their passengers from Livingstone and Lusaka where they seem to have business

  2. Part and parcel of economic change. You can’t keep using the same economic model when times have changed. Good luck to them. Kz

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  3. I said it before and I will repeat this. The two new airports at Ndola and Lusaka and also the planned national airline are White elephants because we are putting the cart before the horse. . International air travelers do not travel to see a fancy airport. They travel to do business and tourism. The economic activity, tourism and rule of law are some the ingredients. The money spent on these misplaced prestige projects could have been spent light trains in Lusaka, Ndola and Kitwe to replace the congestion and chaos caused by minibuses. Lagos, Addis, SA (Gautrian) have done it. Responsible govts spend to solve real problems faced by their people, Not building airports for international travelers who will never materialize. Cry my beloved country!

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  4. Proflight launched Ndola – Johannesburg route. I believe they will take a major share market now, especially that they are operating the Solwezi route as well. It’s a win win for them. Already SAA is facing stiff competition for the Lusaka -Johannesburg from Rwandair

  5. They are very expensive. Let them leave the route to Airlink. I’m sure even British airlines will be on that route when cb airport is opened

  6. The restructuring of SAA can promote business for local Zambian airlines. They have a grand opportunity to provide linkages with SAA by connecting travelers from Ndola to Lusaka.

  7. And some morons still want to create a national airline….SAA is just being spoonfed with taxpayers money any other business would have been shut downyears ago

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  8. Mwansa Kabinga – They have closed that route because its not profitable not busy, what makes you think your airline will offer cheaper tickets? Why dont you people think for once, Proflight flies to Ndola with smaller aircraft these are the airlines you should championing not airline wasting taxpayers money.

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