February 14 2018 I No. 2481 SOUTHERN AFRICA’S TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY TNW6867SD NEWS PROFILE FEATURE DINESH NAIDOO TAMMY HUNT EUROPE Ready to drive transformation at Asata Balancing personal and home life Creative ideas for repeat guests INSIDE Page 2 Page 10 Page 12 Cemair ‘nailed’ 40 years young SARAH ROBERTSON Express staff member, now at the CAA, about his new position. The CAA staff OMESTIC carrier, CemAir, claims member allegedly told him: “Don’t its recent grounding is motivated move there, we are going to nail them Dby bad blood between the airline next year.” and SA Express. SA Express has denied this claim. Aviation sources have made similar Refilwe Masemola, spokesperson, told suggestions to TNW. TNW: “There is no bad blood between CemAir is following a formal appeal the airlines; their grounding was as process after its flights were grounded. much a surprise to us as it was to the Miles van der Molen, ceo, of CemAir, SA public. The willingness remains says the airline suspected that it was to assist Cemair with its stranded being targeted due to the substantial passengers.” market share and large contingent According to the media statement of staff it had taken from SA Express released by the SACAA, the withdrawal recently. of CemAir’s Certificate of Airworthiness “Five of the 12 CAA officials who privileges followed the discovery during oversaw our audit were ex-SA Express an audit that some of the aircraft that officials… We are being targeted not were serviced at CemAir’s Aircraft It was an extraordinary party. The reason was to celebrate 40 years because we are failing but because we Maintenance Organisation were but the message was that it’s the people from Thompsons who have are succeeding.” released back into service or cleared made the difference. The last year was a stellar one for the Thompsons According to Miles, his staff members as airworthy by unqualified personnel. Group and so the atmosphere crackled with camaraderie as almost received a number of suspicious emails Miles claims that the dispute all the staff of the component groups including wholesale, travel and from SA Express members requesting related to a matter of paperwork inbound from all parts of South Africa celebrated together at the the names of their avionic technicians compliance rather than safety as the Barnyard Theatre in Sandton. Founder, Anton Thompson, was there as leading up to the audit. airline’s avionic technicians had the was ceo, Michael Tollman. Here Michael pours champagne for Anton Miles also claims that he has requisite qualifications and experience. while the doyennes of wholesaling and travel look on. From left: a signed affidavit from one of his “However, SACAA advised us that Anton, Joanne Adolphe, Michael and Mary Shilleto. Photo: Dave Marsh employees who had contacted an ex-SA To page 2 ATL Tours director gets bail Airlink positioned to fill SAA’s gap TEssA REED by the South African Air Licensing AHMED Talaat, director and chairman ATL Tours did not exist. Council. of ATL Tours, has been granted bail. Ahmed was eventually arrested AIRLINK has applied for and is far along He explains, however, that approval He was arrested in January 2014 at the five-star Hyatt Hotel in the process of snapping up licences to doesn’t mean Airlink can operate the after more than 40 customers laid Johannesburg in January 2014. operate routes that SAA has cut back flights immediately as there is still a fraud charges against him. His court case was postponed on on and, in some instances, appears to diplomatic protocol that needed to be One of the worst affected victims numerous occasions, but he was have scrapped entirely. followed. Thereafter, Airlink becomes the at that time arrived with 11 friends never granted bail. Rodger Foster, Airlink md and ceo, designated carrier to operate the route in Bangkok only to find that other Private Investigator, Andre told TNW that the airline’s application in terms of the bilateral agreement. than their flights, their R127 000 Van Wyk, from IRS Forensic for licences to operate flights to Abuja, Airlink then applies to the aeronautical holiday package booked with To page 20 Libreville, Douala, Luanda, Brazzaville, authority to operate the route. Moroni and Cotonou had been approved To page 2 TNW8542SD Travelport bids NEWS farewell to Rabih Dinesh to drive transformation RABIH Saab, president seen first-hand the role he SARAH ROBERTSON grass roots and working his very ready for this role. He and md of Travelport EMEA has played in expanding way up would help him to is a very innovative individual region, will leave at the end our operations, evolving our INESH Naidoo, new tackle transformation, as he and is always looking at new of the month, after 14 years offering and building the president of Asata, understood the challenges ways of doing things. He at the company. exceptional regional team will focus on ensuring that were experienced at all brings a lot of energy to any Jason Clarke, senior vp D we have today.” that the association’s levels. He said Asata had role that he takes on and he and md, Agency Commerce “While we search for his new professional travel already begun a survey to has a good understanding of at Travelport, says Rabih replacement, I will provide programme is fully up and determine where the industry broader industry issues.” will be moving on to a further support to the EMEA running as soon as possible; fared, establish a benchmark Scholtz Fourie, cfo of new challenge in a new team, and Matthew Powell, lobby the industry for ways to and identify gaps. Tourvest Travel will take on industry. “I have had the md of the Middle East stimulate growth; and drive Dinesh was previously the role of vice president, fortune of working with and South Asia, will expand transformation. vice-president of Asata while while Colin Mitchley, Rabih throughout his time his regional role to cover Dinesh said he hoped his Vanya Lessing was president. financial director of BidTravel with the company and have Africa.” experiences of starting at She commented: “Dinesh is will be treasurer. Asata cancels conference ® Rubes By Leigh Rubin TEssA REED Moreover, he said, the board would be very beneficial to the felt that a broader thought industry. She said in terms ASATA’S Board has leadership summit was needed, of the conference, Asata overwhelmingly voted to cancel while Asata could look to hold competed for attendance with its 2018 conference, which was a conference next year. the conferences of the various to have been attached to WTM Dinesh said the summit consortiums in the industry, Africa. The association will host would bring together industry making it difficult to compete a conference next year while an leaders across sectors, on content alone. Therefore, innovation summit is planned something that was needed. she said, Asata needed to for later this year. He said this would include ceos differentiate its conference. Newly elected Asata of airlines, GDSs and other She suggested that driving president, Dinesh Naidoo, told groupings within the industry. networking opportunities and TNW that there were various Industry stalwart Robyn high-level discussions with factors taken into account Christie said a summit bringing industry leaders and decision before making the decision. together heads of industry makers was the way to go. Cemair ‘nailed’ From page 1 The airline has undertaken alleged affidavit with SACAA, they also require technicians to reroute affected they are unable to comment to complete another short passengers on other airlines on the matter. “Regardless, course. This is not mentioned or to refund them in full. we wish to state in very clear “How should I know what it means? That’s in the approved SACAA Miles says the airline is having terms that SACAA does not for archaeologists 35,000 years from now manual.” A technician who some difficulties reaching tolerate any unprofessional signed off six CemAir aircraft GDS-booked passengers and conduct by any of its to sort out.” had not completed the short in rerouting passengers where employees.” course. Cemair is the only carrier on TNW was informed by an “On February 1, we met the route. agent that SA Express is not with CAA officials and it was Kabelo Ledwaa, manager: assisting with re-accomodating Founding Editors: understood that we would be Communications for SACAA, CemAir passengers. Refilwe John H Marsh (1914-1996) Leona Marsh (1923-2003) given a grace period to meet says: “SACAA wishes to be explains: “The reason behind EDITORIAL the additional requirement... given the space to focus the airline not carrying their TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY Editor: Tessa Reed [email protected] However, this decision was on all aspects concerning passengers is because www.etnw.co.za Features Editor: Michelle Colman [email protected] then overruled and an email CemAir’s current compliance a commercial agreement Published by Publisher: Natasha Schmidt [email protected] was sent to me advising of issues and see the process between the two parties has Travel & Trade Publishing (Pty) Ltd Journalists: the suspension five minutes to its full, fair and logical yet to be finalised, however Printed by Juka Printing (Pty) Ltd Dorine Reinstein Candice May before midnight [on Thursday conclusion.” He adds that, as we remain willing to assist Phone: (011) 327-4062 Sarah Robertson Hilka Birns February 1].” CemAir has not yet shared the CemAir where we can.” Fax: (011) 327-4094 E-mail: [email protected] Photographer: Shannon Van Zyl Web: www.nowmedia.co.za Production Editor: Ann Braun Address: Now Media Centre, Airlink positioned to fill SAA’s gap 32 Fricker Road, Illovo Boulevard, GROUP PUBLISHER Illovo, Johannesburg.