"Comair will try to take all reasonable steps to accommodate passengers with a FlySafair ticket on the date and at the price specified on the ticket‚" Venter said. FlySafair has said it will refund any passengers who wished to cancel their tickets.
The High Court in Pretoria grounded the new start-up airline before it even started operating‚ following an application by rival airlines Comair‚ which runs low-cost carrier Kulula‚ and recently licensed Skywise Airline.
Judge Neil Tuchten granted an interim order restraining FlySafair from operating a domestic passenger air service‚ pending the finalisation of a review application lodged to try to set aside its licence.
Venter alleged FlySafair had failed to comply with local legislation stipulating that 75% of its shareholding be held by South Africans who had active and effective control of the airline.
"As countries protect the ownership of their mineral resources and marine territories‚ so too is the air space of a country regarded as a national asset‚" said Venter.
He said Comair had no problem with competitors.
"Comair welcomes competition in the South African aviation market. "We strongly believe that our market should not be exposed to exploitation by foreign-owned airlines," Venter said.
"More importantly‚ we believe that the economic value of South Africa's air space and the image and sustainability of our industry should be protected‚" he added.
Source: Sapa via I-Net Bridge
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