South African government calls for review of SAA route cuts

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Friday that his government did not agree with plans to cut some of struggling SAA domestic routes, plunging rescue efforts for the cash-strapped carrier into uncertainty. Specialists appointed to try to rescue SAA said on Thursday that SAA would cease flights to Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth from Feb. 29, as well as cutting some international routes, as part of efforts to conserve cash and make the airline more attractive to potential equity partners. SAA flights to Cape Town will continue on a reduced basis, the specialists said. The public enterprises ministry, which oversees SAA, said it wanted the route changes reviewed. “Government will be making representations to the Business Rescue Practitioners in order to balance the necessity for trimming unprofitable routes with the need to ensure the future sustainability of both the airline and South Africa’s aviation industry,” the ministry said.<br/>