Airlink news

[Ray W]

Airlink iniated their new Cape Town to Maputo route yesterday.

[evanb]

A personal anecdote on good Airlink service.

Booked a ticket for the old lady (79 year old) to come visit us in Australia. Domestic leg on Airlink with a separate ticket for Singapore Airlines for JNB-SIN-MEL. She likes wheelchair service, mostly since she's not good over long distances and isn't a frequent traveler. She gets intimidated by large and unfamiliar places and having someone take her through and just not have to cover long distances in a rush is a great help to her.

I booked these back in July and forgot to call to reserve the wheelchair and only remembered last night. Singapore Airlines was fine, but Airlink requires reservation of the wheelchair 72 hours in advance. I pleaded by case with a very patient call centre agent who notified her manager who in turn called JNB operations to check if they could do it at short notice (less than 24 hours) and confirmed that they could.

Airlink have grown extraordinarily in the last few years and have still managed to provide a level of service that usually only smaller business can provide. Thanks to Airlink - I will be eternally grateful and I have been saved from sarcastic reminders from my mother of a fail! Thanks and congrats to Roger and the team!

[Tipper]

George this morning

Airlink-George2.jpg

Airlink-George.jpg

[V5 - LEO]

.....got this titbit of news,

25 July 2023, Johannesburg – Airlink acknowledges the Johannesburg High Court’s decision on its application to recover approximately R890 million from its former franchise and commercial partner, South African Airways (SAA).

Airlink brought the application to the Court in 2022 on the basis that the funds were derived from ticket sales for Airlink flights prior to SAA voluntarily placing itself in business rescue on 05 December 2019, but payable after that date.

Unfortunately the High Court dismissed Airlink’s application.

“Airlink respects the Court’s decision, it is after all the duty of the company’s leadership to explore every available avenue to recover the funds. Meanwhile, we will continue to focus on growing Airlink as an independent, financially robust, commercially vibrant, competitive and sustainable airline,” said Airlink CEO and Managing Director, Rodger Foster.

.....and so the looting continues

[Whirly]

On what grounds was their claim turned down by the court? Is their claim legitimate (obviously not according to the court), or is there some legal loophole that got SAA off the hook?

Whirly.

[Deanw]

On what grounds was their claim turned down by the court? Is their claim legitimate (obviously not according to the court), or is there some legal loophole that got SAA off the hook?

This may be the reason:

... the funds were derived from ticket sales for Airlink flights prior to SAA voluntarily placing itself in business rescue ...

Their claim would have been overseen by the Business Rescue practitioners and they would be subject to the approved Business Rescue plan.

[Eddie Haynes-Smart]

the funds were derived from ticket sales for Airlink flights prior to SAA voluntarily placing itself in business rescue on 05 December 2019, but payable after that date.

Offhand (I haven't studied the judgment) I would suggest that the above highlighted phrase was the key issue: was it legally payable before business rescue or after business rescue had started.

[Richard007]

Airlink has a busy month in front of the Competition Commission. This could be a big number too.

[JustFlying]

Airlink has a busy month in front of the Competition Commission. This could be a big number too.

Looks like it’s the same matter with multiple dates and as per line item one, has been dismissed.

https://www.comptrib.co.za/open-file?FileId=53353
Cemair vs Airlink

[Deanw]

Court rules SAA does not owe privately owned Airlink
https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/natio ... d-airlink/

[Ray W]

Court rules SAA does not owe privately owned Airlink
https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/natio ... d-airlink/

Well that sucks

[Volo]

That ruling does not make any sense whatsoever . The debt as far as I can see is precisely that . It was incurred by SAA pre commencement of the BRP process and it has not been settled ?
The BRP process does no absolve SAA from the debt . Airlink should appeal the decision including the costs award .The costs award is bizarre .

[GLF4]

Think we all know why Airlink failed with this...

[Richard007]

Airlink lost in the Supreme Court of Appeals. These judges are top quality.

They also lost the two rounds before this. Suggesting all these judges are incompetent or biased against airlink is ridiculous.

[GLF4]

Airlink lost in the Supreme Court of Appeals. These judges are top quality.

They also lost the two rounds before this. Suggesting all these judges are incompetent or biased against airlink is ridiculous.

Who watches the watchers, top judges appointed by government