Aviation Safety Failures Disrupt South Africa’s Regional Airports and Business Travel

South Africa’s regional airports are facing a severe operational crisis as critical aviation safety systems break down, disrupting flight schedules and sparking public concern. Instrument flight procedures (IFPs), essential for low-visibility navigation, have been abruptly suspended at several airports, affecting early-morning and bad-weather flights across Limpopo, the Free State, and the Northern Cape.

The disruptions have led to flight cancellations, delays, and limited operational windows, creating chaos for airlines, passengers, and regional economies. The root of the problem lies in regulatory lapses and overdue maintenance by the Air Traffic & Navigation Services (ATNS), a state-owned entity operating under the Department of Transport.

Minister Creecy Confirms Deep Systemic Issues

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has publicly acknowledged the scale of the crisis, citing a damning internal audit that revealed numerous high-risk findings. Many of these findings were not addressed on time, leading to the suspension of 326 flight procedures in 2024 alone.

“There is a process to implement remedial measures on all high-risk findings, which was concluded by the end of February,” Creecy said during a March 17 briefing, adding that medium-risk findings would be addressed by March-end. However, the final compliance deadline for ATNS looms on April 10, raising the stakes even further.

Regional Connectivity at Risk

The economic impact is particularly felt in regional provinces like Limpopo, where business and tourism are highly dependent on reliable air travel. Polokwane International Airport was among the hardest hit, with the Gateway Airports Authority Limited (Gaal) confirming that flight delays and cancellations stem from ATNS’s suspension of required navigation procedures.

Morning business flights — often scheduled in low-visibility conditions — are being routinely cancelled or delayed, resulting in lost business opportunities and rising costs for airlines and travellers alike.

What Are IFPs and Why Do They Matter?

Instrument Flight Procedures (IFPs) govern how commercial aircraft take off, cruise, descend, and land — especially when visibility is poor. In South Africa, all airline flights must follow IFPs as part of international aviation compliance. Without approved and updated IFPs, airlines cannot legally or safely fly in anything other than ideal weather conditions.

Currently, only major airports like OR Tambo, Cape Town, Durban, and Lanseria have had their IFPs restored and validated. Smaller regional airports remain in limbo, with no clear timeline from ATNS on when procedures will be reinstated.

Airline Industry Pushes Back

The aviation industry is sounding the alarm. Aaron Munetsi, CEO of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA), described the situation as “untenable.” FlySafair CEO Elmar Conradie confirmed that flight cancellations at King Phalo Airport (East London) were caused directly by ATNS mismanagement.

Meanwhile, ATNS has promised to restore IFPs at regional airports, while hiring 10 new air traffic controllers to address the organisation’s skills shortage. But with infrastructure upgrades still pending and regulatory deadlines fast approaching, confidence in the agency remains shaky.

Business and Tourism Face Mounting Costs

The aviation breakdown is not just a technical issue — it’s a business and economic risk. Reliable regional air connectivity is crucial for economic hubs outside of Johannesburg and Cape Town. Tourism, logistics, and inter-provincial trade are all threatened by flight uncertainty.

Travellers and businesses are now paying the price, with increased fares, disrupted itineraries, and missed connections — all stemming from a crisis that aviation experts say could have been avoided with better planning and oversight.

South Africa’s aviation safety crisis is far more than an inconvenience — it’s a national operational failure with widespread effects on regional economies, business travel, and public confidence. As ATNS scrambles to meet regulatory deadlines and restore critical systems, the need for long-term, accountable leadership in the aviation sector has never been clearer.

{Source Daily Maverick}

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