SWAZI AIRWAYS MAIDEN FLIGHT FAILS TO TAKE OFF

MANZINI – Swazi Airway’s dream to embark on its maiden flight as a commercial airline died at conception as they failed to record enough clients over the long Easter weekend.

The airline was launched with much aplomb about a month ago and numerous consumers have been questioning when it would begin operating. It is unclear yet if the airline has since received its licence to operate but what has been noted is that Swazi Airways has not began formally advertising its flight schedule in formal media outlets.

 A source close to the matter revealed that as far as he was aware, the airline had not yet been licensed by the Swaziland Civil Aviation Authority (SWACAA) as they had several processes that were still being undertaken. “Licensing an airline does not happen overnight as there are certain compliance issues that need to be adhered to before a licence is issued,” the source explained.

 He further said if indeed the airline does not yet possess an operating licence, it would have been illegal to commence on flights as no one can fly within the Swazi skies without being licensed. It has been reliably gathered that the airline released a couple of short messages to its target market informing them of several special charter flights which were being made available over the Easter weekend.

These messages were sent via personal cellphone numbers to several company executives about two weeks before the Easter weekend which began on Friday, March 25, 2016.
The first SMS sent to clients read: “Ladies and gents-special charter flight to JHB facilitated by Swazi Airways, Friday, March 25, E1 500 return (sic). Space limited. Book now contact: name of booking agent withheld.”

Second SMS: “Following soon-chartered flights to Durban (E2 100) and CT (E4 700) return.”
According to information gathered from a few individuals who received the messages, when they enquired why the newly-launched airline was not using local media outlets to advertise the special flights, the booking agent informed them that the airline was yet to be licensed. “I informed a friend of mine about the fantastic offer and they went ahead and made a booking, that is when trouble began,” revealed the source.

He mentioned that the booking agent whose number was also included in the message did not respond calls nor did he return them until March 23, 2016 when he informed those who had booked space that the flights would not take place due to low response from potential clients.

 It was also mentioned that for all the flights which were advertised, clients were expected to travel to their destination and back on the same day according to the packages on offer. “This was also another reason some of my friends did not take up the offer as it was ridiculous to travel by flight to Durban and be expected to return the same day yet the weekend was still beginning.”

When contacted, the officer whose contacts were included within the messages made it clear that he was not authorised to give official statements on behalf of Swazi Airways. He acknowledged the fact that his number had indeed been included in the special flights offer that targeted the Easter weekend.
He did, however, mention that even though he could not comment on the licence status of Swazi Airways, the special charter flights that had been scheduled over Easter holidays would have not been illegal as airlines did not have to possess a licence in order to convene such. He referred all further questions to SWACAA.
Airspace Regulator in the country, SwaCAA through its Director of Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Sabelo Dlamini, said he was not aware where the newly-launched airline stood in terms of its licensing. “Yes, it is true that we are the licensing body, but currently I do not know the status of the airline in terms of its licensing and I was also not aware that the entity was advertising flights around the Easter long weekend. They are better placed to clarify their position to you,” said Dlamini.
Swazi Airways was launched on February 14  this year in a  colourful media briefing attended by locally- based foreign envoys such as European Union Ambassador Nicola Bellomo, South African High Commissioner Happy Mahlangu, Republic of China on Taiwan representatives and other guests, who all witnessed  the Swazi Airways Board launch a 110-passenger Swazi Airplane.
It was mentioned during the launch that the airline was still undergoing registration or licensing formalities with international airline regulators like ICAO and others. At the time, its maiden flight was scheduled for the first week of February. Swazi Airways is 100 per cent owned by government.
The Swazi Airways board chairperson Nokuthula Mthembu had said during the launch that they (as a board) hoped this one would be a success and they had looked at its business model, which is likely to be a mix of both passenger and some cargo service.
Read more on Page 26

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