SAA stops ticket sales in Malawi amidst currency devaluation

MALAWIANS NOT ABLE TO BOOK SAA FLIGHTS

As of 8 November last week, the Reserve Bank of Malawi devalued the kwacha by 44% to MWK1 700 against the US dollar, from its previous level of MWK1 180. This has resulted in local airline, SAA, suspending its ticket sales in the country, barring anyone in Malawi using the kwacha to make bookings. Flights and bookings to Malawi, however, will continue, reports travel news.

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“In light of yesterday’s devaluation of the Malawian kwacha by 44% against the USD, South African Airways has made the difficult decision to suspend all air ticket sales that are bought in Malawi with immediate effect,” A SAA statement revealed on 9 November.

“Bookings and sales for tickets from outside Malawi, purchased in any other currency continue. Similarly, flight operations between Johannesburg and Lilongwe and Blantyre are continuing uninterrupted.”

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While SAA CEO, Prof John Lamola, added that the decision was a risk management strategy in response to the country’s current economic conditions.

“This should not be interpreted as a step back from the airline’s commitment to serving the people of Malawi and promoting trade links between South Africa and Malawi.” Lamola said.

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AIRLINK ADDS MORE FLIGHTS TO MALAWI SCHEDULE

This news comes just after another local airline, Airlink, announced an additional flight connecting Johannesburg to Lilongwe Malawi.

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The new route, which connects Johannesburg to Lilongwe and Blantyre, officially launched in September this year, has received very positive feedback and according to Airlink CEO and MD Roger Foster, due to the popular demand, they would be increasing flights.

“As anticipated, the market has responded positively to Airlink’s offering on the routes, which are all about providing reliable, convenient and great value connectivity for travel between the two countries. In response to popular demand, we will be upping our frequencies on Johannesburg-Lilongwe-Johannesburg to four a week – with the introduction of Saturday flights from mid-December,” explained Foster as per travel news.

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It has not yet been revealed how the currency devaluation will affect Airlink’s schedules.