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<p>There is a new airline in town. Some would say this is a strange time start a new airline, but not the team at Lift. The new player in the airline industry is co-founded by Gidon Novick, who is the former CEO of Comair and Co-Founder of  Kulula and he joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


SA’s newest airline set for lift-off

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<p>Comair returned to the skies today, for the first time in over eight months. This is a significant step in getting Comair back on its feet, after coming out of business rescue. Comair CEO, Glenn Orsmond joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Comair CEO on the road to profitability & outlook for aviation industry

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<p>Kulula founder and hotel disrupter, Gidon Novick is setting his eye back onto the aviation industry as he hopes to launch a new low-cost domestic airline in South Africa. This is amid the chaotic global aviation industry and South Africa’s depressed airline market. Joining CNBC Africa for more is Gidon Novick, Founder of Kulula and the Former CEO of Comair.</p>


Kulula Founder on plans to launch a new domestic airline in SA

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<p>This week Comair become the latest victim of Covid-19 lock-down&#8217;s with the airline filing for business rescue hot off the heels of South African retailer Edcon.</p>


COVID-19: Businesses seeking rescue at the tipping point

COVID-19: Businesses seeking rescue at the tipping point, bubble is about to burst

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<p>Covid-19 has clipped the wings of the global aviation industry with Comair the latest airline to announce that it would enter business rescue. International aviation and tourism bodies are now calling for urgent relief of $10 billion as well as other support measures to revive Africa’s travel and tourism sector and prevent millions from losing their jobs. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) Director General, Alexandre de Juniac joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Reviving Africa’s aviation industry post COVID-19


<p>JSE-listed airline, <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/videos/2020/02/27/comair-ceo-on-covid-19-impact-on-business/">Comair</a>, has announced the group will enter business rescue to safeguard the interests of the company and its stakeholders after the <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/videos/2020/05/04/covid-19-lockdowns-when-is-the-right-time-to-reopen-economies/">COVID-19 crisis</a> disrupted the implementation of a turnaround plan.</p>



<p>In its H1, FY20 results Comair reported a half-year loss of R564 million. Although revenue grew by 3%, this was reportedly not enough to offset cost increases of 14% resulting from significantly higher fleet and maintenance costs.</p>



<p>Read the full statement below:</p>



<p><strong>Comair enters business rescue in response to unprecedented circumstances resulting from Covid-19</strong></p>



<p><strong>&#8211; Move aims to restructure the airline as a sustainable business</strong></p>



<p><strong>Tuesday, 5 May 2020:</strong> Listed airline company, Comair, today announced the group will enter business rescue to safeguard the interests of the company and its stakeholders after the Covid-19 crisis disrupted the implementation of a turnaround plan.</p>



<p>Comair CEO, Wrenelle Stander, said the company, which reported a half-year loss of R564 million for H1 F20, faced an unprecedented situation following the Covid-19 lockdown.</p>



<p>“While we had started making good progress to fix the financial situation six months ago, the crisis has meant we have not been able to implement it as we intended.</p>



<p>“We completely understand and support the government’s reasons for implementing the lockdown, however as a result we have not been able to operate any flights. Now that the phased lockdown has been extended the grounding is likely to endure until October or even November. These extraordinary circumstances have completely eroded our revenue base while we are still obliged to meet fixed overhead costs. The only responsible decision is to apply for business rescue.”</p>



<p>In terms of the lockdown Comair was required to stop flying on 26 March and has not operated any passenger services since. The Covid-19 crisis has also severely affected the global airline industry. A number of carriers have gone out of businesses. Others such as Virgin Australia and Air Mauritius have implemented restructuring processes, similar to business rescue.</p>



<p>“Comair remains solvent and an important contributor to the South African economy. This is a necessary process to ensure a focussed restructuring of the company takes place as quickly as possible so we can take to the skies again as a sustainable business and play our part in the county’s airline industry,” says Stander.</p>



<p>Shaun Collyer and Richard Ferguson have been appointed as the joint business rescue practitioners with effect from 5 May 2020.</p>



<p>Comair was granted approval to suspend the trading of its shares on the JSE with immediate effect. The business rescue practitioners will provide shareholders and all other stakeholders with further updates throughout the process.</p>



<p>The business rescue process will build on the turnaround plan that Comair management was already implementing. It aims to preserve cash, cuts costs, dispose of non-performing assets and strengthen the balance sheet. The Section 189A process, which was part of this plan and that began on 23 March, will continue.</p>



<p>The business rescue practitioners will work with the management team and the board towards Comair resuming operations in accordance with all regulatory requirements, including the health protocols to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Stander said Comair will resume its operations in accordance with government directives and will continue to engage with government to accelerate the opening of the airline industry.</p>



<p>“The health and welfare of our customers, crew and the public is the overriding priority and we will only operate when we are sure we can do so safely.”</p>



<p>Customers with existing bookings will be able to rebook flights within 12 months of their departure date. There will be no charge for any changes made before 1 November 2020.</p>



<p>“Through this process we intend to right-size our operations to be more efficient, agile and customer-centric. This includes, but is not limited to, reconfiguring our network and fleet mix, reviewing portfolios and joint ventures, increased digitisation of the business and new product development and delivery,” says Stander.</p>



<p>“We are confident that with the work we’ve already done and the support of our stakeholders we will get through this process and will be a more sustainable business, better positioned to continue serving the flying public and contributing to the South African economy.”</p>



<p>The business rescue practitioners will contact all stakeholders and suppliers to plan the way ahead in accordance with the processes set out in the Companies Act.</p>



<p>For more coverage on COVID-19 visit: <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/covid-19/">https://www.cnbcafrica.com/covid-19/</a></p>


International travel for South Africans is now allowed, this is how it will work

COVID-19: SA based airline Comair enters business rescue


<p>JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) &#8211; South Africa’s confirmed number of coronavirus cases rose to 554 on Tuesday from 402 a day earlier, as businesses raced to make plans for a nationwide lockdown from midnight on Thursday.</p>



<p>President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the 21-day lockdown in an address to the nation on Monday, saying Africa’s most advanced economy needed to escalate its response to curb the spread of the outbreak. </p>



<p>South Africa has the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases in sub-Saharan Africa, and public health experts are worried that the virus could overwhelm the health system if infection rates rise steeply. </p>



<p>Health officials are working to expand the country’s coronavirus testing capacity and develop a plan to ensure there are enough intensive care beds with respirators. </p>



<p>“The numbers, we mustn’t be shocked when we see them increase. But these measures if we all work together must turn the curve around,” Health Minister Zweli Mkhize told a televised news conference, saying South Africa could reach an inflection point in its infection curve two or three weeks after its lockdown restrictions enter into force. </p>



<p>Two patients are in intensive care, but there have been no deaths from coronavirus in the country, Mkhize said. </p>



<p>Agriculture Minister Thoko Didiza said the government had taken steps to ensure the lockdown would not affect food security. </p>



<p>“There is no need to embark on panic-buying, the country has enough food supplies,” Didiza said, adding the government would be monitoring food retailers to ensure sellers do not inflate prices.</p>



<p>Aviation company Comair, a franchise partner of British Airways (BA), said it was suspending all flights it operates for BA and services on the kulula.com low-cost airline from Thursday until April 19. </p>



<p>Tsogo Sun Gaming said its casinos and bingo sites would be closed by Wednesday.  </p>



<p>A bargaining council for the clothing manufacturing industry said it had reached a collective agreement for guaranteed pay for 80,000 workers for six weeks. </p>



<p>(Reporting by Alexander Winning, Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo and Emma Rumney; editing by Barbara Lewis)</p>



<p>This article was first published on Reuters Africa <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica-idUSKBN21B17D">https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica-idUSKBN21B17D</a> and is republished with its permission.</p>


Ramaphosa tests negative for coronavirus as South Africa to begin lockdown

CR-lockdown

South Africa’s coronavirus cases reach 554, country braces for lockdown

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JSE-listed airline operator Comair has reported a R555 million half-year net loss. The company is facing tough skies ahead as it looks to claim compensation from Boeing for the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 as well pursuing to claim the full outstanding amount owed by SAA whilst implementing cost cutting measure. Comair CEO, Wrenelle Stander joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Comair CEO on COVID-19 impact on business

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<p>Comair’s revenue increased by 9 per cent to R7.1 billion in the year to-end June mainly attributed by R1.27 billion settlement it received from SAA. The company also saw a 16 per cent increase in operating expenses to R6.26 billion. Joining CNBC Africa for more is Wrenelle Stander, Joint CEO, Comair Limited.</p>


SAA settlement lifts Comair’s earnings

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<p>There have been quite a few board changes in corporate South Africa in the last few hours in everything from mining to airlines. CNBC Africa&#8217;s Chris Bishop filed this special report.</p>


Comair names Glenn Orsmond, Wrenelle Stander as new joint CEOs

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<p>Lufthansa Technik is partnering with Comair to provide fleet management solutions. This is Lufthansa Technik’s re-entry into the African market and CEO Ulrich Hollerbach hopes this is a lasting arrangement. He spoke to CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Lufthansa, Comair sign maintenance deal

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<p>Comair, the only JSE listed aviation company and owner of low cost airline Kulula.com, has contracted Lufthansa Technik to provide support for its entire Boeing 737 fleet. Outgoing CEO, Erik Venter spoke to CNBC Africa reporter Kopano Gumbi.</p>


Why I stepped down & where to next for the airline: Comair CEO


<p>Comair&#8217;s CEO Erik Venter has resigned to pursue his own interests.  <br>He leaves at the end of July 2019.  </p>



<p>Venter, has been with the profitable airline for 23 years, 13 of them as CEO.</p>



<p><strong>Comair statement </strong></p>



<p>Comair CEO, Piet van Hoven, says Venter, who is only the fifth CEO in the company’s 73-year history, leaves Comair in a much stronger position than when he started. </p>



<p>“When
Erik took over Comair was almost exclusively dependent on its airline
businesses which are notoriously subject to seasonal and economic vagaries. He
conceived and led our diversification strategy. Other Group businesses now
contribute nearly 30% of profit before tax, a proportion that is growing.”</p>



<p>These
businesses include the Group’s investment in an aviation training academy with
a global customer base, as well as its SLOW lounge business, its Food
Directions catering unit, its travel business and its investment in technology
solutions for tourism, travel and aviation.</p>



<p>“I
believe I speak for everyone in Comair when I say that Erik has been a
visionary, considered and hugely respected leader and a wonderful person to
work with. He will be missed but leaves behind a strong and experienced
executive management team, which is another credit to his foresight.”</p>



<p>Wrenelle
Stander, an industry veteran and former Comair director, who has now returned
to the board, is a recent addition to an executive team, which collectively has
over 100 years’ experience at the airline. Stander was appointed executive
director responsible for the airline business in September last year. </p>



<p>“For
years to come, Comair will continue to benefit from Erik’s contribution in
terms of the course he has set for the business and the team he has appointed
and nurtured to deliver it and ensure another 73 years of consecutive profits,”
says Van Hoven. </p>


Comair CEO quits after 13 years at the helm

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<p>Comair today has won the bid to interdict NUMSA workers from embarking on a strike over wage issues. CNBC Africa&#8217;s Lubabalo Mashiqana spoke to NUMSA Spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola on the union&#8217;s response.</p>


Comair wins court bid to halt NUMSA workers from striking

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<p>Comair reported its interim results citing a slightly improved performance compared to the same period last year. Half year headline earnings per share were 43.6 cents. CNBC Africa is joined by Kirsten King, FD of Comair.</p>


Comair’s Kirsten King on how to significantly grow the passenger market

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<p>Comair reported its annual results, siting a 54 per cent increase in profits to R297 million and a 28 per cent increase in cash generated by its operations. Joining CNBC Africa is Kirsten King, Financial Director at Comair.</p>


Comair

SA’s newest airline set for lift-off

Comair CEO on the road to profitability & outlook for aviation industry

Kulula Founder on plans to launch a new domestic airline in SA

COVID-19: Businesses seeking rescue at the tipping point, bubble is about to burst

Reviving Africa’s aviation industry post COVID-19

COVID-19: SA based airline Comair enters business rescue

South Africa’s coronavirus cases reach 554, country braces for lockdown

Comair CEO on COVID-19 impact on business

SAA settlement lifts Comair’s earnings

Comair names Glenn Orsmond, Wrenelle Stander as new joint CEOs

Lufthansa, Comair sign maintenance deal

Why I stepped down & where to next for the airline: Comair CEO

Comair CEO quits after 13 years at the helm

Comair wins court bid to halt NUMSA workers from striking

Comair’s Kirsten King on how to significantly grow the passenger market

Comair delivers strong results in tough environment

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Comair

SA’s newest airline set for lift-off

Comair CEO on the road to profitability & outlook for aviation industry

Kulula Founder on plans to launch a new domestic airline in SA

COVID-19: Businesses seeking rescue at the tipping point, bubble is about to burst

Reviving Africa’s aviation industry post COVID-19

COVID-19: SA based airline Comair enters business rescue

South Africa’s coronavirus cases reach 554, country braces for lockdown

Comair CEO on COVID-19 impact on business

SAA settlement lifts Comair’s earnings

Comair names Glenn Orsmond, Wrenelle Stander as new joint CEOs

Lufthansa, Comair sign maintenance deal

Why I stepped down & where to next for the airline: Comair CEO

Comair CEO quits after 13 years at the helm

Comair wins court bid to halt NUMSA workers from striking

Comair’s Kirsten King on how to significantly grow the passenger market

Comair delivers strong results in tough environment

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