Comair Covid-19 cautionary: We may only fly by October

The owner of low-cost airline kulula and operator of British Airways local flights in South Africa, JSE-listed Comair, posted an ominous cautionary Sens announcement on Thursday noting that it may only start flying again as late as October or November due to Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

“In terms of (the) Governments latest requirements for the gradual upliftment of the lockdown in terms of a five-level risk assessment process, it appears that restricted air travel will commence at Risk Level 3, full domestic air travel at Risk Level 2 and regional and International air travel at Risk Level 1,” the aviation group noted.

“The level of the prevailing Covid-19 risk will determine the progression from Risk Level 5 to Risk Level 1. In terms of the Government’s requirements, it is not anticipated that Comair will commence operating prior to October or November 2020,” it added.

Comair’s cautionary announcement comes as all local and international commercial flights into South Africa, have been grounded since March.

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It follows government banning local and international travel into and within the country, as one of the main “state of disaster” measures aimed at curbing the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus. Comair, Flysafair, SAA and other domestic and international airlines worldwide, are caught in the midst of the biggest aviation industry crisis in history, with lockdown and curbs to air travel globally.

Comair noted in its latest Sens that the entire world has been affected by the Covid-19 outbreak and lockdown measures imposed by national governments to combat this virus. The group said that it “welcomed the decisive action taken by Government in curbing the impact of Covid-19” on all South Africans.

“Of primary importance is the health and wellbeing of our staff and their families as well as our customers. For the period 17 March to 30 April 2020, in terms of the lockdown, Comair has been unable to operate. Comair has however been monitoring the information released by Government closely,” it added.