South African airline suspends flights to Mozambique

Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – South African airline, Airlink, has cancelled flights to Nampula in Mozambique with immediate effect.

This follows an interim order by a Mozambican court to seize three aircraft. Two Mozambican citizens were detained in Johannesburg on 7 December for unruly behaviour. They subsequently took the airline to a Maputo court to challenge this action. They received an order to seize the aircraft but when the court officials attempted to do so, they were unsuccessful. 

Airlink on Tuesday said it has appointed lawyers in Mozambique to establish its rights under Mozambican law to block the court order. 

“We do not believe their claim or the District Court order they secured has any merit. In addition to legal avenues, because Airlink's flights to Mozambique are operated under the bilateral air services agreement between SA and Mozambique, we have also requested help from SA’s Department of Transport and the Department of International Relations & Co-operation to resolve the matter through diplomatic channels. We will continue to monitor the situation,” said Airlink managing director Rodger Foster.

-0- PANA CU/MA 8Jan2025