SATSA, the voice of inbound tourism in Southern Africa, has called for immediate corrective measures in response to the recent indefinite suspension of Air Traffic Navigation Services (ATNS) for instrument-based approaches at South African airports.
This indefinite suspension, affecting such airports as George, Kimberley, Polokwane, Mthatha, Upington, East London, Skukuza and Richards Bay, has severely disrupted domestic air travel. Major international gateways like OR Tambo and Cape Town International Airports are also operating with limited capacity.
Instrument Flight Procedures (IFPs) are indispensable for ensuring the safe and efficient operation of aircraft, particularly under Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) conditions where visibility is compromised. These procedures are meticulously designed to account for terrain and obstacles, providing pilots with the necessary guidance to navigate safely in adverse weather conditions and during night-time operations. The current suspension is due to a lapse in the regular maintenance and re-validation of these procedures, a process that is fundamental to their ongoing safety and efficacy.
The result has been widespread flight delays, diversions, and cancellations, leaving passengers stranded and causing significant consequences for the country’s tourism and economy.
“The inability to promptly update and maintain these critical procedures not only jeopardises flight safety but also undermines confidence in our aviation system,” says David Frost, CEO SATSA.
Voicing strong concerns, Frost adds that the shutdown came without consultation with or warning to the industry it affects. Further, no timeline has been given allowing the travel and tourism industry to make contingency plans.
“Instead, we have a situation where we are literally ‘flying blind’ with no communication on how long this shutdown will endure and hence no ability to mitigate the impact to our travellers and businesses,’ Frost continues.
“The government and relevant authorities must act swiftly to rectify this situation and confirm what the timelines so that we can plan appropriately. We urge the Minister of Transport to prioritise the immediate reinstatement of these essential services and to implement stringent oversight mechanisms to ensure this does not happen again.”
SATSA is particularly alarmed that this issue follows a similar incident in March 2023, highlighting a troubling pattern of lapses in maintaining critical aviation infrastructure. The association demands a comprehensive review and overhaul of ATNS’s maintenance procedures to prevent future occurrences.
Representing the interests of South Africa’s inbound tourism sector, SATSA further calls on Minister Barbara Creecy to meet with industry associations whose members’ operations are often impacted by transport regulations and issues.
“For years, we have been plagued by unacceptable delays in the issuing of National Public Transport Regulation (NPTR) licenses. This ongoing issue directly hinders the operations of our members, preventing them from operating their vehicles legally. The department has acknowledged they are not processing 2023/2024 renewals and are only addressing a backlog of applications lodged between 2018 and 2021. This is outrageous considering the number of outstanding applications for SATSA members alone: 79 operators and 289 vehicles. This is yet another stark illustration where constructive dialogue between the tourism private sector and the Department of Transport is desperately needed. This will not only alleviate the current bottleneck but also help to strengthen South Africa’s tourism economy in the long run.”
