Flag carries - a thing of the past
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: In transit
Age: 70
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a "flag carrier" operates first and foremost for the benefit of the country
South African Airways operates first and foremost for the benefit of the ANC government, the ruling elite, and those who support it.
It is grossly subsidised by the tax payer, the tax base for personal income tax is extremely small, with less than 5% of the labour force paying more than 50% of personal income tax. 5 million taxpayers out of a population of about 60 million. Of those, about 3 million paid roughly 97% of the tax in personal income and we can assume corresponding amounts in other taxes on consumption and expenditure. So we have the 'currently disadvantaged' paying to subsidise an airline run for the benefit of the 'previously disadvantaged'.
A perfect example of a 'flag carrier' at its worst, with its dwindling network and increasing losses.
