SA’s Air Service Licensing Council to be separated from SACAA

During the South African Civil Aviation Authority’s (SACAA) Annual General Meeting (AGM), the Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, announced that the country’s Air Service Licensing Councils will be returned to the Department of Transport.

FUNCTION OF AIR SERVICE LICENSING COUNCIL

There are two such councils, the International Air Service Council (for international services) and the Air Service Licensing Council (for domestic services).  

These councils are responsible for considering applications for and awarding (or withdrawing) the licences to operate air services, as required by South African airlines and other commercial aviation services operators.

To be eligible for air traffic rights, an airline must have an air services licence, which must be used within 12 months of allocation and not interrupted for more than three months, failing which the council must rescind it.

Once traffic rights are rescinded, they become available for reallocation to another airline applicant.

OPERATING UNDER SACAA

These councils have been administered by SACAA for some time and certainly since their reformation in March 2022.

Both councils became defunct in April 2021, when the terms of the previous councillors ended.

There was indeed a lengthy period during which the country had no councils that could take up matters or receive new service applications.

NO FUNCTIONING AIR SERVICE LICENSING COUNCIL

In the absence of the councils, unused traffic rights could not be rescinded or reallocated to other airlines.

This presented an obstacle to airlines wishing to start up scheduled flights on routes that were not being serviced. This included Mango, SA Express and South African Airways at that time.

However, since the councils were reformed in March 2022, airlines can again apply to operate new services.

Hence the number of airlines operating new scheduled services in the local aviation landscape.

SHIFT FOR AIR SERVICE LICENSING COUNCIL

The minister stated that the Department of Transport will administer both councils from 1 October.  

The decision to place the councils under the Department of Transport is expected to streamline licensing processes. In addition, it should also strengthen regulatory oversight in aviation.

RECOGNISING EXCELLENCE

The minister congratulated the South African Civil Aviation Authority for achieving its 11th consecutive unqualified audit.

Creecy also praised SACAA for successfully implementing the Annual Performance Plan for the 9th time.

She was appointed Minister of the Department of Transport on 3 July, in the new Government of National Unity.

Creecy served as the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment between 2019 and 2024.