South Africa’s transport minister, Barbara Creecy, stated that “it is premature” to grant FlySafair an exemption from legal provisions requiring at least 75pc South African ownership pending a review by the Air Services Licensing Council.
The council is currently assessing submissions from FlySafair and competitor Global Aviation Operations, following their meeting on January 14, amid a request from FlySafair for clarification on the ownership provisions of the Air Services Licensing Act.
FlySafair disputes the council’s interpretation that its ownership structure is non-compliant, arguing that South African trusts and companies hold 75pc of the airline’s shares, and claims that the interpretation could affect the compliance status of many South African airlines.
The airline has a court interdict requiring further meetings with regulators by January 20, 2025, as it faces additional challenges from Global Aviation and Airlink regarding its compliance with licensing regulations.
