JOHANNESBURG - Comair said on Tuesday that it has entered voluntary business rescue - South Africa's bankruptcy protection process - after a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus forced airlines to suspend all commercial flights.
Comair, which operates the British Airways franchise in South Africa and owns budget airline Kulula, is the first local airline to file for business rescue as a result of the coronavirus.It joins embattled state-owned South African Airways , which filed in December, while state-owned SA Express was placed under"provisional liquidation" on Tuesday by a court after the airline's administrators said rescue efforts that began in February weren't likely to succeed.
Comair Chief Executive Wrenelle Stander, said the firm, which reported a half-year loss of R564 million in February, faced an unprecedented situation following the five-week-long coronavirus lockdown, which was partially lifted from May 1.Stander said the only responsible decision in response to the travel restrictions is to apply for bankruptcy protection.
"Now that the phased lockdown has been extended, the grounding is likely to endure until October or even November. These extraordinary circumstances have completely eroded our revenue base while we are still obliged to meet fixed overhead costs," he said in a statement. The airline was granted approval to suspend the trading of its shares on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange with immediate effect.
Flysafair after hearing SAA, Kulula and British Airways are in the pits:
Yet we are getting a new SAA?
Thanks to the govt overreaction
Ok so does that leave fly safair as the only local airline in SA ?
Sembi..💔💔