CemAir has been ordered by the High Court in Johannesburg to return the ground-handling equipment it uses at multiple airports to its owner, Swissport South Africa, by Sunday, December 14.
On Tuesday, December 10, Judge Leonie Windell ordered CemAir to return the equipment, which includes airport passenger buses and baggage-handling equipment, within five days of her order, reports moneyweb.co.za.
She further ordered that if CemAir failed to return the equipment within the stipulated time, the Sheriff of the High Court would then be authorised to remove the equipment and deliver it to Swissport’s premises at CemAir’s cost.
The order follows an ongoing dispute between the carrier and the airport ground services provider regarding a monthly Equipment Lease Agreement lapsing, and the potential sale of equipment to CemAir pending outstanding payments to Swissport.
Miles van der Molen, CEO of CemAir, told Travel News that the carrier would be appealing the order, and said the dispute would have no impact on the airline’s operations.