Press & Media
WATCH eNCA News] 52nd AASA AGA and Airlines Summit: Turbulent times aviation industry
October 14, 2022. #eNCA #DStv403
It's been turbulent times for the airline industry. First Covid-19 took them out of the sky and just when it looked like it was cleared for take-off, it was hit by high fuel costs and shortages. The Airlines Association of Southern Africa is holding its annual general assembly. Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu is set to address challenges with local flights.
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Minister of Tourism addresses the 52nd AASA AGA on developments in the tourism industry
October 14, 2022. AASA News.
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Future Developments & Prospects for the SADC Tourism Industry
South African Tourism Minister, Lindiwe Sisulu, addressed the 52nd AASA AGA and Southern African region’s aviation industry at a critical juncture for our deeply interconnected and interdependent sectors. @LindiweSisuluSA #WeDoTourism
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SA airports may face new fuel crunch if Transnet strike drags on, aviation leader warns
October 14, 2022. Carin Smith for News24.com.
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The Transnet strike can lead to SA airports once again facing jet fuel shortages, warns the CEO of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa.
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If the Transnet strike is prolonged, jet fuel supplies to South Africa's main airports could be jeopardised ahead of the peak summer tourist season, and at a time when airlines can least afford further disruption, warns Aaron Munetsi, CEO of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA).
"Our meeting here takes place against the backdrop of what threatens to be an economically crippling strike by rail and harbour workers. Although AASA supports the Constitutional rights of labour to protest and strike, in this instance South Africans and their economy will bear the brunt of this action and the impact will ripple throughout the rest of the region and everyone will be poorer. We urge government and the fuel suppliers to urgently apply themselves to establishing a far more robust and resilient plan for such eventualities. We cannot afford for our travel and tourism industry's - or our economy's - recovery to be derailed through failures to plan and procure suitable provisions of jet fuel and by not implementing policies and regulations that insulate aviation from the impact of any disruptions," explained Aaron Munetsi, AASA CEO
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Aaron Munetsi's warnings were echoed by Kamil Al-Awadhi, regional vice-president for Africa and the Middle East of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Read more...
[WATCH eNCA Special] 52nd AASA AGA and Airlines Summit: Carriers want to spread their wings
October 15, 2022. #eNCA #DStv403
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AASA elects 2022-23 Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson
15 October 2022. AASA News Release.
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Kleinmond – Mr. João Carlos Pó Jorge has been elected the new Chairperson and Mr. Elmar Conradie as Deputy Chairperson of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA). They were elected at the 52nd Annual General Meeting and will serve for the next 12 months.
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Mr. Jorge is the Director-General of Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (LAM). Mr. Conradie is the CEO of Safair.
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"Our industry emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic in a very different shape to what it was. It is leaner, fitter, and stronger, but faces considerable economic and regulatory headwinds and external threats, including the reliable supply of fuel, which is the most immediate pressing issue. Both João and Elmar are highly respected and knowledgeable leaders in the Southern African air transport industry and well-placed to provide guidance and support as we continue to lead and speak for the airline industry and engage on their behalf with governments and regulators throughout the SADC region," explained Aaron Munetsi, AASA CEO
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AASA’s 2022 Annual General Assembly was attended by over 260 delegates representing airlines, airports, air navigation and weather services as well as manufacturers, suppliers, and other industry stakeholders. Issues addressed included the need for urgent action by governments in the region to review policies and regulations to enable a more efficient, comprehensive, and competitive air transport industry to serve and support all the economies of the SADC region. Download [pdf]...
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Media contact: Linden Birns, Plane Talking, PR Advisor for AASA. Email linden@icon.co.za
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Airlines Association of Southern Africa adds its concern over ongoing Transnet strike
October 14, 2022. Dieketseng Maleke for Business Report
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The Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) has added its voice to growing concerns over the Transnet strike that is negatively affecting most sectors of South Africa’s economy.
Transnet Port Terminals, an operating division of Transnet, has declared a force majeure, which means it cannot fulfil its contractual obligations due to unforeseeable circumstances. Read more...