South African Airways (SAA) received an operating license as it prepares to resume operations after nearly a year of grounding.
The embattled South African flag carrier has not announced the exact date of the resumption of its flights, but it says preparations are underway and the crews are hard at work.
Meanwhile, a renewed operating license has been granted to the carrier by the South African Civil Aviation Authority.
“This is an important development as SAA readies itself to take to the skies again in just a few weeks,” SAA’s Interim CEO Thomas Kgokolo is quoted in the company’s press release.
“While I acknowledge there is frustration over a delay in confirming this date, all of us at SAA need to make sure vital components in a very complicated and multi-faceted process are working seamlessly before we start. I’m confident that we will be able to make that announcement soon,” Kgokolo adds.
SAA ceased operations in September 2020, after a year-long drama over the funding. The airline has been under bankruptcy since December 2019 and failed to procure funds for planned restructuring, while the South African government confirmed and denied its intentions to fund the failing company on numerous occasions.
Since then, the funding has been approved, and SAA’s management revealed their intention to resume operations before September 2021. Yet, amidst arguments over pilots’ salaries and further corruption scandals, the exact date of the resumption has been under shrouds.