SOUTH AFRICAN EXPRESS GROUNDED
The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has suspended SA Express’s air operator’s certificate and grounded nine of the operator’s 21 aircraft which means that the carrier may no longer operate with immediate effect.
The SACAA says it found serious non-compliance of airline maintenance organisation which poses a serious safety risk. It says the airline could not ensure that operations requirements and safety obligations were met at all times. While the authority did not disclose the exact nature of the non-compliance, it says five of the 17 findings amounted to severe non-compliance that poses a very serious safety or security risk to the public.
The authority says in order to start operating again, SA Express will have to re-apply for an air operating certificate, an approval for the aircraft maintenance organisation, as well as airworthy certificates of the grounded aircraft.
Travellers holding SA Express tickets will need to make new travel bookings with another airline.
