JOHANNESBURG, South Africa
South Africa national carrier South African Airways (SAA) will suspend its operations to Lilongwe and Blantyre in Malawi at the end of November.
The airline made the
announcement on Tuesday, calling this move a "risk management
intervention".
Said SAA’s chief executive
officer, Professor John Lamola: “This move should not be interpreted as a step
back from the airline’s commitment to serving the people of Malawi and
promoting trade links between South Africa and Malawi."
President of Malawi, Lazarus Chakwera |
Last week, President of
Malawi, Lazarus Chakwera suspended all his international trips until march as
part of cost-cutting measures following the devaluation of the Malawi Kwacha.
The suspension of foreign
trips also extends to all cabinet ministers, heads of statutory bodies and
senior government officials.
SAA says while it values its
relationship with the Malawian market, it "cannot commit to routes that
are not financially sustainable".
Last week, Malawi's central
bank devalued the country's currency - the Kwacha - to the US Dollar by almost
30%.
The currency's value to the US
Dollar currently sits at less than 1%.
SAA said it would continue to
monitor the situation in the country and remains open to resuming the route
should the situation change.
The route will officially stop operating next Thursday.
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