4HolerPoler
16th Nov 2014, 06:46
Remarkable development - there was a recent spat when EK started the 4th daily Joburg service. They were issued with a licence to do so by the SA Department of Transport but 2 days before the service started they retracted the permission. EK went to court and got an emergency injunction which allowed them to continue the 4th service.
This has since escalted to the point that the South African Minister of Transport has sent a diplomatic letter demanding that the UAE Minister of Economy present himself for a meeting in Pretoria on Monday 17 November, with the threat if he does not they'll pull the authority for all of Emirates flights to SA.
Now this is classic politician showmanship but the concern is that someone is going to lose a lot of face over this which could have some serious ramifications.
Rumours are that the Abu Dhabi airline is trying to link up with the ailing South african Airways and that this move by the SA government (100% shareholders of SAA) would create a situation which would open the doors to such a development.
This is going to be interesting.
This has since escalted to the point that the South African Minister of Transport has sent a diplomatic letter demanding that the UAE Minister of Economy present himself for a meeting in Pretoria on Monday 17 November, with the threat if he does not they'll pull the authority for all of Emirates flights to SA.
Now this is classic politician showmanship but the concern is that someone is going to lose a lot of face over this which could have some serious ramifications.
Rumours are that the Abu Dhabi airline is trying to link up with the ailing South african Airways and that this move by the SA government (100% shareholders of SAA) would create a situation which would open the doors to such a development.
This is going to be interesting.