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Johannesburg - Airline company Comair will adhere to a court ruling to accommodate passengers of the grounded low-cost airline FlySafair, CEO Erik Venter said on Thursday.
"Comair will endeavour to take all reasonable steps to accommodate passengers with a FlySafair ticket on the date and at the price specified on the ticket," Comair CEO Erik Venter said in a statement.
On Wednesday, FlySafair said it was willing to refund any passengers who wished to cancel their tickets.
The High Court in Pretoria grounded the new start-up airline on Wednesday before it even started operating, following an application by rival airlines Comair, which runs low-cost carrier Kulula, and recently licensed Skywise Airline.
Judge Neil Tuchten granted an interim order restraining FlySafair from operating a domestic passenger air service, pending the finalisation of a review application to set aside its licence.
Venter alleged FlySafair had failed to comply with local legislation stipulating that 75% of its shareholding be held by South Africans, and that they had active and effective control of the airline.
"As countries protect the ownership of their mineral resources and marine territories, so too is the air space of a country regarded as a national asset," said Venter.
He said Comair had no problem with its competitors.
"Comair welcomes competition in the South African aviation market... but strongly believes that our market should not be exposed to exploitation by foreign-owned airlines.
"More importantly, we believe that the economic value of South Africa's air space and the image and sustainability of our industry should be protected," he said.
