SAA has implemented
contingency plans for its
operations affected by the
runway closure at Chileka
International Airport in
Blantyre, Malawi.
The main runway was
closed for maintenance
on April 24, and SAA’s
operations on that day, as
well as those on Saturday,
April 27, were cancelled. This
is because the aircraft that
SAA operates to Blantyre
does not fit the required
categories of the airport’s
secondary runway, which will
remain operational.
“We have implemented
contingency plans by using
SA Express’s Q400 turboprop aircraft to continue to
operate this route,” SAA
said in a statement.
“The nature of the
aircraft deployed during
the rehabilitation of the
runway will be a single-cabin
aircraft,” said Tlali Tlali,
SAA spokesperson. SAA will
compensate passengers
who had booked premium
cabin tickets. “The decision
was based on the nature
of the offering in the
single-cabin aircraft and
in accordance with our
compensation policy,”
said Tlali.
Other customers will
be re-accommodated to
Lilongwe, where operations
are unaffected. These
passengers will have the
option of reconnecting from
Lilongwe for onward travel by
air or ground transport.
Passengers who have
not been ticketed will be
rebooked on to the next
available flight.
Passengers or groups who
have been ticketed should
be aware of the following
rebooking conditions:
SAA will rebook affected
passengers on to the
operation between
Johannesburg and Blantyre
where applicable;
Re-accommodation of
reservations has been
made by SAA on to
the closest available
fight between the two
destinations in the same
booking class;
Change fees will be
waived;
Tickets must be re-issued
on or before May 7, and
the booking owner may
re-issue the ticket;
Tickets to be endorsed
‘INVOL Re-RTT due BLZ
RUNWAY Closure/Date’.
A full refund of the unused
portion of the ticket will only
be considered once the
above options have been
considered.
Malawi runway closure: SAX’s Q400 to the rescue
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