DURBAN - Pravin Gordhan, the Minister of Public Enterprises has commended the team that was involved in the rescue of SA Express Airline after the airline was grounded this May for breaking safety rules.
According to Gordhan, the airline will be back in the skies within a few days.
The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) suspended the airlines operating permits in May this year because of safety concerns,
SA Express Airline released a statement on Thursday announcing that SACAA restored their Aircraft Maintenance Organisation certificate. According to the statement, the airline had to undergo a stringent and rigorous process to the high standards of the regulator.
While speaking at the National Press Club in Pretoria, Gordhan said that SA Express Airline had had their first test on Thursday.
According to Gordhan the team that worked on the reviving the airline had shown the strength of what can be accomplished by working together to move the country forward.
Gordhan said that a new board came in around the same time that the airline was grounded.
The Minister added that the people that were on the team that revived the airline were retired and the team along with the airline's new board will see SA Express Airline back in the air very soon.
Airline suspension
Along with the suspension of the airline's operating permits by SACCA, the certIficates of airworthiness for nine of the fleet's 21 aircraft were suspended too.
When the airline was suspended the airline agency said that SA Express Airline would have to apply again and be issued for the following:
1. An air operating certificate
2. An approval for the aircraft maintenance organisation
3. Certificates of airworthiness for the grounded aircraft.