Traveller24 reports that with Treasury struggling to raise the necessary funds to keep South African Airways (SAA) aloft, travellers were being advised on Tuesday that as many as 19 SAA flights have been removed from the Airline Global Distribution Systems.  

While confirmation was received via Flight Centre about the flight cancellations, SAA had not by Tuesday morning yet confirmed any flight cancellations.  Its last communication to the public on Monday, 20 January was that operations were "continuing as normal".  When SAA was placed into business rescue on 5 December 2019, Treasury pledged to match a R2bn loan provided by banks.  However it is struggling to raise those funds.  Business rescue practitioners (BRP) Les Matuson and Siviwe Dongwana are expected to publish their business rescue plan by the end of February 2020.  Meantime, following the appointment of the business rescue practitioners in December, board members have been called on to resign, with Martin Kingston having done so over the weekend.  Kingston confirmed his resignation saying there was "no need" for him to be on the board in the wake of the appointment of business rescue practitioners.  The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and the SA Cabin Crew Association (Sacca) welcomed the resignation of the SAA director.  The two unions also reiterated their call for the rest of the cash-strapped state-owned airline's board to quit.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Traveller24

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page