Swissair continues CT flights pending SAA privatisation plans

THE ANNOUNCEMENT that the closing date for binding offers for a stake in South African Airways has now been set at May 31 has encouraged Swissair to continue with its ongoing flights to Cape Town from Johannesburg, for the time being at least.
Public enterprises minister Stella Sigcau announced last week that final negotiations for the part privatisation of SAA would take place in June, with the outcome likely at the end of that month.
Swissair, meanwhile, had planned to cease ongoing flights to Cape Town at the end of March, with SAA serving its clients from Johannesburg and on the return route.
Instead Swissair g.m. in southern Africa, Henny Rohrer, has stated that as no agreement in this respect had been signed, the eventual implementation of any arrangement will depend on SAA's choice of a strategic equity partner.
We have learnt that the final choice of such a partner will not be before the end of June and that does not really give us sufficient time to change, he says.
Although passenger considerations have been top of the airline's concerns, it has a considerable cargo operation to and from this country, with Cape Town and its perishable season a valuable source.
Meanwhile Singapore Airlines has announced that it is continuing with its bid for a stake in SAA, despite having not reached a planned agreement with the airline on code-share arrangements with south-east Asian destinations.
SAA had planned to resume flying the route from May 27, but this schedule has now been postponed pending further negotiations.