Update
GEORGE NEWS - In a statement on 30 January, the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (Aasa) expressed its concern and frustration over Air Traffic Navigation Services' (ATNS') failure to reinstate flight procedures by the summer peak travel season for priority airports (such as George), as promised.
Aasa CEO Aaron Munetsi said air traffic services in the country are also significantly impacted by the continued suspension of numerous airways and routes between South Africa's major air traffic control zones.
"Exacerbating this is the shortage of qualified and experienced air traffic controllers and airspace designers worldwide, which has seen aggressive poaching of South African talent away from ATNS.
"Operationally this has seen ATNS impose flow control in the Johannesburg control area, ie, limiting the number of aircraft it lets into the airspace at any given time by increasing the gaps between departing and arriving flights, so that the controllers are not overwhelmed."
A shortage in jet fuel is another factor that adds to the air travel industry woes.
Munetsi said neither the fuel suppliers nor Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) can guarantee the necessary volumes.
Furthermore, the past weekend's double breach of the SA Weather Services (Saws) IT system meant they were unable to provide any aviation weather observations or forecasts on Monday, "a further aggravation which the industry could do without".
Collecting money, but not rendering the service
Munetsi said airlines and passengers pay statutory user charges to the various state aviation agencies for the provision of reliable, safe, efficient and affordable services, however there is concern over Acsa, ATNS and Saws' applications for tariff increases to their respective economic regulators.
"This when they have been unable to provide the full range of the services that they have been paid for.
"At the same time the airlines are bearing the brunt in terms of ensuring that they meet their commitments to their customers by having to provide alternatives for disrupted operations."
Previous articles:
- Air navigation systems at George Airport suspended
- Weather impacting flights at George Airport
- More flight disruptions possible at George Airport
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