After running out of finances, Comair, the South African operator of British Airways flights, has grounded all of its planes, according to the business.
Kulula, a cheap airline, is also operated by the carrier, which is currently in administration. Those planes are also stopped, and both airlines’ ticket sales have been halted.
Comair’s administrators “have informed that the process to raise the necessary capital is in way and that there is reason to anticipate such funds may be acquired,” according to a statement posted late Tuesday.
“Once the funding is confirmed, the airline will be able to resume operations,” it said. “Unfortunately, the practitioners have no choice but to voluntarily cease all scheduled flights until the funding is confirmed.”
Comair filed for voluntary business rescue — a mechanism comparable to bankruptcy protection – in May 2020, amid the height of pandemic lockdowns, in order to restructure the company.
The firm, which maintains a fleet of 26 Boeing jets, mostly 737-800s, had resumed most operations by February of this year.
However, in March, South African aviation inspectors halted Comair’s flights for five days due to safety concerns, delivering the company a new setback.
The new ban could result in a 40% reduction in airline capacity in Africa’s most industrialised country, potentially raising travel fares on the country’s main route between the financial hub Johannesburg and touristic Cape Town.
