Claims that the South African Airways (SAA) flight dispatched by government to transfer a consignment of Covid-19 vaccines was an expensive exercise are devoid of the truth, says the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE).
In a statement on Friday, the department said these claims sought to sabotage the role of SAA Cargo in the national effort to transport vaccines and other valuable cargo into the country.
“Once again a minority of SAA pilots tried to protect their own self-interest and pockets by attempting to discredit a flight to transport vaccines back into the country to protect health workers from the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The department said the flight to Brussels also served as a test relaunch of the SAA Cargo business.
“Many airlines around the world, including Lufthansa and Ethiopian, have intensified their cargo businesses while the passenger loads declined sharply in order to bring in revenue. There will be many such flights by SAA in the months to come. This will also include transport of vaccines from manufacturers to African countries during the next months,” said the DPE.
It added that for many years SAA had proved that the cargo business had merit and value to serve the interests of customers and the country’s economic development.
“The Brussels flight to bring back the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is proof that a restructured and well-managed airline operated in a professional and sustainable manner can support key economic sectors – including travel, tourism and even cargo, to solidify South Africa as an African gateway to international markets.”
The DPE said the relaunch of the cargo business served many purposes - among these being an increase in volumes of cargo transported by SAA into and out of South Africa.
It would also ensure that sovereign logistics capacity was sustained – just as when repatriation flights were used to bring home South Africans stranded in various parts of the world under level 5 lockdown.
“Over time cargo will become a profitable business. Partnerships with the private sector will be considered at the appropriate time. These flights will become commercially viable,” said the DPE.
