British Airways takes off King Shaka International airport. Picture: Bongani Mbatha/African News Agency(ANA)
Durban - British Airways (BA) yesterday confirmed that it had suspended its direct London-to-Durban flights due to “global travel restrictions” but it is expected that the airline will resume its schedule when the aviation industry rebounds.
BA said in a statement in response to The Mercury’s questions regarding the decision yesterday that “We are sorry that, like other airlines, due to the current coronavirus pandemic and global travel restrictions we are operating a reduced and dynamic schedule.
“We will be in touch with any customers whose flights are affected and advise customers to check ba.com for the latest flight information,” he said.
BA suspended the Durban-London route along with 13 other destinations.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Ravi Pillay said that the airline had worked hard to keep flying despite the pandemic affecting its global operations.
“This organisation has had to make extraordinary sacrifices, letting go of some 12 000 staff and retiring 31 aircraft. Meanwhile, the UK has just emerged from its second lockdown which has meant there simply aren't that many people flying at the moment,” Pillay said.
Pillay said the province remained confident that BA would resume direct flights to Durban once greater certainty had returned to the world and the aviation industry regained momentum.
“The impact of Covid-19 and subsequent travel restrictions globally have resulted in low-anticipated demand. It is therefore not unreasonable that an airline like British Airways reduces the routes in its network,” Erskine said.
The Mercury
