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Nationwide halts operations
29/04/2008 15:28  - (SA)  

  • Nationwide in major BEE deal
  • Nationwide halts job cut plans
  • Nationwide eases back slowly
  • Johannesburg - Nationwide Airline has ceased operations until further notice, the airline announced on Tuesday.

    "Our cash-flow has become critical and as a result have decided to voluntarily cease all flight operations until further notice," said chief executive Vernon Bricknell.

    "We apologise to our loyal customers for any and all inconveniences experienced."

    In a statement, Bricknell referred to an incident in which an engine fell off one of its planes on its departure from Cape Town International Airport in November last year.

    "Subsequent to this, a protracted grounding of our fleet was mandated by the SA Civil Aviation Authority.

    "In the months of December and January, we resumed operations and attained a gradual recovery of the business. However, in the months of March and April we faced a 30 percent increase in fuel costs coupled with a decrease in passenger load factors," Bricknell said.

    "Throughout this period, we continued to work towards securing investment by a black empowerment consortium, which unfortunately has not come to fruition."

     
     

     
         
      nationwide crashlands -again
    29/04/2008 15:46
    Thanks for the explanation Vernon - but please just tell us: what do we, with tickets, do now? My parents are booked on a much-longed for holiday to the Kruger Park and it looks like their dream trip is about to crashland. Do we try and book on other airlines at our own cost or do we wait for some concrete advice? Is there anybody out there? - robyn
     
      Not ethical
    29/04/2008 15:52
    Nationwide must honour tickets that have already been paid for. They cannot leave cash strapped customers to now try book alternative flights with other airlines.......and pay with what. Some people save for months to fly and we simply do not have the money available to book another flight. You took our money before you issued a ticket now honour it. - SJO
     
      if you cant take the heat get out.
    29/04/2008 16:00
    cheaper airline.did you ever compare the actual prices yes cheaper in words only.and how did they think they could servive by charging less .the fuel that they used cost more then what they made per flight. - seandesilva
     
      Excuses
    29/04/2008 16:36
    Vernon it is so easy for you to apologise and give excuses when you do not have to deal with angry customers directly. I feel sorry for all the Nationwide tickets and sales agents that will have to deal with raging customers. Hopefully you will be not have to experience that Vernon because everyone is so understanding that they will just except your humble apology. CLEAN UP YOUR OWN MESS!! - Daniel Le Grange
     
      one down ... more to follow
    29/04/2008 16:43
    Me thinks .... the first of many more to follow. - Johann
     
      Nationwide shame on Govt/SAA
    29/04/2008 16:47
    Its truly troubling that SAA(Mango) funded by taxpayers money was involved in weakening Nationwide's business to the point where it could not weather this storm.. How does govt react to this? Just write (yet) another R???M cheque to SAA? Is this how we create jobs in SA? Competition drives prices down. Will the prices stay there when all competition is gone? Look at Eskom if you doubt the tyranny of a monopoly. - Null Hypothesis
     
      Nationwide Ticket Refunds
    29/04/2008 16:47
    Nationwide cancelled a flight out of George in mid January 2008. I still await a refund. I know people who had Nationwide flights cancelled in December 2007. They still have not been refunded - Paul Rixom
     
      Alternatives please
    29/04/2008 16:50
    Is anyone at Nationwide going to comment on what we now do with our paid for tickets? I am due to fly tomorrow afternoon and have had to book an alternative ticket on SAA. Let's hope they stay in the sky! - Guy
     
      Please give us some answers
    29/04/2008 16:59
    I have booked return tickets for 2 to Cape Town AND paid for it..in CASH! We are (well..were) suppose to fly to CT tomorrow morning at 0700. Our family phoned this afternoon and told us about Nationwide. At first we thought it was a bad joke! Now we got last minute bookings on SAA. This whole trip is costing us R8000! It was either that or deal with very dissapointed family and loved ones. Please give some answers. What now about the tickets that has been paid for? - Peter
     
      What a pitty
    29/04/2008 17:04
    No smoke without fire. Is the current demise of Nationwide due to non BEE compliance ie politically motivated? Information released to the press by civil aviation authorities spokespersons indicated or intimated safety and/or maintenance short comings although this was never fully explained or otherwise by Nationwide. The grounding of all their aircraft over a protracted period has some mysterious overtones. - Derek
     
         
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