FlySafair foreign ownership deadline overturned by court

Court Overturns FlySafair’s 12-Month Deadline to Address Foreign Ownership Concerns

A recent court ruling has set aside a directive that required South African airline FlySafair to rectify its foreign ownership compliance within a 12-month period. The decision, handed down by the Pretoria High Court, effectively removes this deadline, providing the airline with a reprieve from the initial requirement.

The directive in question stemmed from the Department of Transport’s concerns regarding FlySafair’s adherence to regulations stipulating that at least 75% of an airline’s ownership must be South African. The department had initially imposed the 12-month timeframe for FlySafair to bring its ownership structure into line with these regulations.

FlySafair challenged this directive in court, arguing against the basis and the imposed deadline. The Pretoria High Court has now ruled in favour of the airline, overturning the department’s initial order.

The implications of this court decision mean that FlySafair is no longer bound by the previously stipulated 12-month window to address the foreign ownership issue. The specifics of the court’s reasoning for overturning the directive are detailed in the judgment, which focuses on the legal interpretation and application of the relevant aviation ownership laws.

This ruling could potentially have broader implications for other airlines operating in South Africa and their compliance with foreign ownership stipulations. The Department of Transport has been notified of the court’s decision.

Key Points

• Court ruling overturns the Department of Transport’s 12-month deadline for FlySafair to fix foreign ownership compliance.

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