After a year of delays, South Africa’s department of transport has finally appointed a new International Air Services Licensing Council as well as its domestic version.
For months the South African commercial aviation industry has been frustrated by the inability to acquire traffic rights or expand frequencies and this has led to criticism from various organizations and industry bodies
The Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA), which represents most of the airlines in the Southern African Development Community, has been working behind the scenes to encourage South Africa’s government to expedite the appointment of the new councils, both of which had become defunct in April 2021 when the terms of the previous councillors ended.
“While we congratulate Cabinet on confirming the appointments of the new councillors, there is much work to be done and no time to rest. The absence of functioning councils for almost a year held back South Africa’s airlines and prevented them from providing the economic and social benefits that air connectivity provides by facilitating trade, tourism and travel. The councils’ resumption will be a great relief for South Africa’s travel and tourism sector as it seeks to rebuild following the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions,” said AASA CEO, Aaron Munetsi.
Under South African legislation, the International Air Services Council and its domestic counterpart, the Air Services Licencing Council, are required to consider applications and award or withdraw licences granted to South African-based airlines and operators of other commercial aviation services.
