SOUTH AFRICA: SA Express Suspension Lifted

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has lifted the suspension of SA Express’ Air Operator Certificate (AOC).

This means that the airline may, with immediate effect, resume operating their fleet of 26 aircraft. The lifting of the suspension comes a day after the operator’s AOC privileges were temporarily withdrawn by the SACAA, after recent inspections and audits revealed deficiencies relating to the operator’s safety monitoring systems.

The Regulator said following several and intensive engagements with the airline, it had provided the SACAA with a revised corrective action plan, which upon perusal and consideration was found to address the major concerns that were raised by the Regulator".

The SACAA said it will continue to intensively monitor and oversee the full implementation of SA Express’ corrective action plan.

It added that suspensions and withdrawals of license holders’ privileges are never an instant action or any form of reprisal by the regulator.

"Such a decision is usually preceded by comprehensive engagements and attempts by the regulator to highlight deficiencies and help license holders to comply with the prescribed standards and applicable regulations. Suspensions are therefore precautionary measures aimed at avoiding catastrophic incidences. Moreover, aviation and the airline industry specifically is a 24-hours operation, and therefore there is never such a thing as an appropriate time to suspend operations."

The suspension came after the airline had failed to submit satisfactory corrective measures, after two failed audits on 19 and 20 April. As a result the airline's operations were suspended in the middle of the long-weekend, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded and scrambling to make alternative arrangements.