Passengers left stranded at George Airport

GEORGE NEWS - Amidst news reports of financial difficulties and grounded aircraft plaguing SA Express, technical problems with one of its planes caused an hours long delay last week, leaving passengers and aircrew stranded at the George Airport late at night. The travellers were initially scheduled to depart at 17:40, but their plane to Johannesburg only landed in George at 21:50.

Then, just as they were about to board, the runway lights were switched off and Acsa staff went home. Some passengers who had nowhere to go, remained in the boarding area. When police was called in to remove them after midnight, SA Express put them up for the night at a local hotel.

In a statement the following day, George Airport Manager, Brenda Vorster, said they could extend the air traffic control deadline for the delayed flight only up to 21:30 due to civil aviation regulations pertaining to the number of consecutive hours that controllers are permitted to be on duty. SA Express was informed of this two hours before they boarded the plane at OR Tambo and the airline was aware that the SA Express flight could land late at George, and as a consequence may not be able to depart.

According to Vorster, the flight left Johannesburg and SA Express advised passengers in George to be at the airport by 22:00 so that the return flight could leave at 23:00. The air traffic controllers remained on duty until 21:50 when the SA Express flight landed and then had to go off duty. "The airport does not want to compromise on matters of safety and adherence to civil aviation regulations and procedures," said Vorster.

SA Express said in a statement that technical problems had necessitated a change in aircraft at OR Tambo. Locating and boarding all passengers added to the delay and the deadline granted by George Airport could not be met.

According to Georgian Kobus Terblanche, whose son was booked on the flight, the plane could have left for Johannesburg if there had been better cooperation between the parties. "I understand the rules and regulations, but to turn an aeroplane of this size around and get it ready for a flight back does not take more than 20 minutes."

Acsa disagrees saying it could easily take much longer. In this incident, the air traffic controllers had also been working a double shift by the time the flight arrived.

Terblanche, who has been involved in the airline industry for 40 years, says Acsa must revisit George Airport's procedures and hours. "If they don't, they can forget about growth. We all pay airport tax and deserve to get value for money."

SA Express troubles

Times Live reported in March that Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown informed the portfolio committee on public enterprises that fund shortages and an old fleet are troubling SA Express. Four of the airline's aircraft were grounded due to maintenance issues and the company was not able to repay R150 million to two banks. Government has since intervened to reach settlement on a repayment plan to the banks and millions were spent to get the planes operational again this month. Chartered planes were used for over a year while the planes were grounded.

SA Express said that it is customary for airlines to charter planes in order to support their schedule. "The issues in George last week had nothing to do with charted aircraft and with the aircraft that SA Express has grounded for MRO (maintenance, repair and operations) work. Both aircraft were from the SA Express fleet."

A new acting CEO, Victor Xaba was appointed to the company on Monday. Xaba was part of the executive management team at Denel. He succeeds Inati Ntshanga who left SA Express at the end of March.

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