Clients who have booked any SAA flight that's been consolidated or cancelled are being fully assisted by their Sure Travel agent.
That's the word from Sure Travel CEO, Vanya Lessing, who said that, in addition to the information being made available to the public by SAA, the group's 70-plus travel agencies throughout southern Africa are "in constant communication with corporate and leisure clients to ensure that any travel disruptions are as pain-free as possible".
As to whether Sure Travel will continue selling SAA tickets, Lessing said: "Understandably, SAA is a hot topic. At Sure Travel, our role as professional travel agents is to fully inform our clients to ensure they are protected. However, we operate on the free market principle that every client has the right to choose. As such, Sure Travel will continue to sell SAA to clients exercising this right, while clearly communicating any possible risks."
This comes after SAA on 30 January announced a second wave of flight cancellations for February as business rescuers and Treasure battled to keep the cash-strapped airline in the skies.
The latest round of flight axing sees the national carrier drop dozens of low demand flights from its schedule, including flights departing and landing in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, East London, Windhoek, Nairobi and more (see the full list here).
Earlier in January SAA announced confirmed that it had removed domestic and international 19 flights – some effective almost immediately – “in line with SAA’s usual policy of reviewing flights and consolidating services with low demand”.
The airline’s spokesperson, Tlali Tlali, said the cancellations “represent a responsible strategy to conserve cash and optimise the airline’s position ahead of any further capital investment” while SAA was in the Business Rescue process.
According to regulations, SAA is responsible for accommodating passengers affected by the flight cancellations. Affected passengers seeking a refund are being advised to contact the airline or, if they booked via a travel agency, to contact their travel agent to make alternative arrangements.
Lessing noted that it is in times like these that the true benefits of using professional travel agents become very apparent: “The true value of a travel agent cannot be underestimated, especially during times of disruption. In an increasingly unpredictable environment, travellers want to know we care and will do everything possible to get them to their destinations. Sure Travel members are standing by and ready to do just that for their valued clients.”
As SAA’s woes continue, there’s likely to be more disruption ahead as the airline considers dropping more flights to stay afloat.
*Should any Sure Travel client have questions regarding SAA bookings, please contact your nearest Sure Travel agency (find yours at https://www.suretravel.co.za/agencies) or contact Sure Online at ticketing@suretravel.co.za
