South African President Jacob Zuma ruled out selling South African Airways (SAA), saying the government would never sell the money-losing national flag carrier.
Many of South Africa's 300-odd state-owned companies, including SAA, are a drain on the government's finances and a team commissioned by Zuma to review them has recommended that some companies should be sold.
SAA has been surviving on state-guaranteed loans and asked the Treasury to extend more guarantees after it used up more than 85 percent of the ZAR14.4 billion rand (USD$965.50 million) in loans already guaranteed by January this year.
"The government is very clear, we will never sell this company, no matter what other people say," Zuma said at SAA's offices in Kempton Park, near Johannesburg. "I believe we can turn it around. This is one of the prides of the country, we cannot allow it to wobble."
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has said the government was considering selling a minority stake in SAA.
The carrier is in the middle of a turnaround strategy led by Gordhan that will include appointing a new board and chief executive and cutting costs and cancelling loss-making routes.
Last year, it cancelled unprofitable routes to Beijing and Mumbai but Zuma told cheering and clapping SAA staff on Friday that the airline's board should be thinking about adding routes rather cancelling them.
"Once I see a flag at the tail of an SAA (plane), I always have the feeling that: 'Man, we are here, we have arrived'" he said. "Therefore, I wouldn't understand any notion that will say this company must be reduced or its capacity must be reduced. It must be expanded."
_(Nov2024)-01.jpg)
We just booked our QATAR 🇶🇦 HÔTEL yesterday for 2 différent short stars of 2 nights and 3 nights for the Final… https://www.14sb.com/fifa-world-cup-hotels.html . Not exactly cheap but ok price for 4.5 Stars luxury and in Doha Center City! Thanks and Good Luck everyone! Vamos MEXICO!
Wow! Stunning! Hilton seems to be taking Africa by storm. Just a couple of years back, they opened the first ever in Eswatini.
Wonderful event and topics discussed, hopefully we see the manifestations in our African airline businesses in the nearest future. Kudos to you all.
Hi, I'm Lucy. Please how do I embark on my travel/ tour business. I am newbie and help..
Prices in the Sol Torremolinos Don Pablo are the same than two weeks ago.
Good location astounding but the staffs are rude and they make me wait so long for the service. They charge me more than what is on the website and did not refund me the manager is not helping with the issue
WoW. Amazing Review. 👍
I spent the holidays here, I don't know why but during the holidays their reception smells like a piss Id rather not spend my special occasions here
Thank you for sharing such a detailed review about ethiopian airlines in your post. I am an avid traveller and keep reading flight reviews to assess the options available. Your review particularly drew my attention because you have shared so many pictures to capture every aspect of the flight experience. It is a very nice effort.
More Info : https://www.cleartrip.ae/flight-booking/ethiopian-air-airlines.html
I am really tempted to book the next ethiopian airlines ticket and relive your journey. The pictures shared with the post also reflect that you truly enjoyed the travel. Great post! I also like the fact that you have covered nuances about the food and entertainment service through the pictures. It helps people know what to expect on their travel by this airline.
More Info : https://www.cleartrip.ae/flight-booking/ethiopian-air-airlines.html