adminJOHANNESBURG. — About 3 000 travellers in South Africa have been left stranded after the Comair airline abruptly suspended all its flights with immediate effect.
The airline announced the suspension on Tuesday evening, citing financial problems.
Angry customers say Comair offered specials and accepted bookings just hours before announcing the suspension.
Some travellers were scrambling to find alternative flights yesterday.
Comair is seeking more funding to be able to resume operations.
It operates low budget airline Kulula as well as domestic and regional flights for British Airways. The firm says it has been affected by the coronavirus-related travel restrictions and the recent increase in fuel prices due to the Ukraine-Russian conflict.
It has been plagued by financial and operational problems.
In March, South Africa’s Civil Aviation Authority temporarily grounded all its planes, citing safety concerns.
Reports showed that around 3,000 passengers were trying to make alternate flight arrangements after Comair suspended its Kulula and British Airways flights.
The carrier said it was broke and South African Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu said the government was concerned by the grounding.
Comair CEO Glenn Orsmond said.
“I need to offer an apology. We have a few thousand passengers here this (Wednesday) morning that are meant to fly on our flights and we’re unable to render the service, so most importantly we owe them an apology.
“We’ve been in business for 75 years. We’ve been safe and reliable and consistent but we let down our passengers today and for that, I really have to say sorry.
“It shouldn’t have happened and my sincerest apologies to our passengers,” he said.
The airline simply does not have enough money to operate.
The carrier, which is in business rescue, says it was trying to source funds. It advised passengers on cancelled flights not to go to airports unless they have made alternative arrangements.
Comair regrets to advise its flights have been voluntarily suspended from June 1 pending securing funding to resume operations.
“If your flight has been cancelled, please don’t travel to the airport unless you have alternative arrangements. Our heartfelt apologies for the inconvenience.” — ENCA/ComAir.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter