ASKY Airlines (KP, Lomé) founder and chairman, Gervais Djondo, has uncategorically rejected reports that his airline is in talks with South African Airways (SA, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo) over the latter's purported investment in his airline.
Earlier this month, international media reported that the South Africans had made overtures to the Togolese carrier concerning a possible buy-in.
However, speaking to South Africa's BusinessDay in London last week, Djondo rejected the reports claiming no such negotiations had ever taken place.
"I am firmly saying that SAA is not buying a stake in ASKY," he told the paper. "I have never been approached or discussed with any representative of SAA about buying a potential stake in ASKY."
The CEO also went on to dispel additional claims the Ethiopian Airlines (ET, Addis Ababa International) subsidiary was considering switching its home base from Lomé to Accra.
For their part, SAA spokesman Tlali Tlali stated that contact with the West African carrier had thus far been only "exploratory" in nature with no concrete agreements having been made.
"We intend looking at pragmatic options which take into account our present day realities — that SAA’s financial position has yet to strengthen. Once the diaries have been harmonised, based on the availability of the parties concerned, discussions will take place and we will get an opportunity to state our case, as it were," he said.
As part of its 9th Turnaround Plan, South African Airways intends to increase its presence in West Africa with Dakar Yoff-Léopold Sédar Senghor International, Lagos and Accra having been considered for potential hubs.
