South Africa's Fly Blue Crane suspends operations

South Africa's Airlink under antitrust scrutiny

Airlink (South Africa) (4Z, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo) is currently appearing before South Africa's Competition Tribunal following a 2018 antitrust investigation into its pricing between Johannesburg O.R. Tambo and Mthatha in the Eastern Cape following three historical complaints, amongst which from the short-lived Fly Blue Crane (Johannesburg O.R. Tambo).

Hearings (case CR280Feb18) started on August 7 and will run until August 18. They follow the 2018 investigation by the Competition Commission - which advises the Tribunal - into complaints that Airlink allegedly contravened South Africa's Competition Act by abusing its dominance on the route and in the regional airline market. The complainants include Mthatha businessman Khwezi Tiya; Mthatha's OR Tambo District Chamber of Business; and Blue Crane Air (Pty) Ltd (branded Fly Blue Crane), a domestic low-fare airline that briefly operated between September 2015 and November 2016 when it entered business rescue before discontinuing flights indefinitely on February 3, 2017. According to ch-aviation research, Fly Blue Crane effectively remains dormant, being listed as active on the South African company register...

Former SA Express bosses try to stop corruption probe

South African investors eye Fly Blue Crane; used B767s

South Africa's Fly Blue Crane loses int'l route authority