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Africa|Business|Cutting|Service|Sustainable
Africa|Business|Cutting|Service|Sustainable
africa|business|cutting|service|sustainable

Comair’s business rescue plan has been approved

21st September 2020

By: Rebecca Campbell

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

     

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The proposed business rescue plan for private sector airline group Comair was approved by a decisive majority on Friday. Comair operates the British Airways in South Africa and Kulula low cost carrier brands.

The preferred investment consortium for the group is composed of several former members of the Comair board and executive management. This consortium will inject new equity of R500-million into the group and receive 99% of its shareholding in return (after the business rescue plan’s suspensive conditions have been met). Up to 15% of the shareholding will be transferred to an appropriate broad-based black economic empowerment partner within 12 months.

However, a further R1.4-billion is needed to relaunch the airline. This will be obtained from lenders, in the form of R600-million in new debt and R800-million in deferred debt (interest will be deferred by six months and capital payments by 12 months). The group will also be delisted from the JSE and a new board established.

The relaunch of the airline necessitated the cutting of operating costs and the increasing of ancillary revenues. The workforce will be cut from around 2 200 to some 1 800, by means of early retirement, voluntary retrenchment, and enforced retrenchment (under Section 189 of the Labour Relations Act). 

The relaunched Comair will retain its relationships with Boeing, British Airways, Discovery Vitality and Slow Lounges. Its aircraft will be returned to service in a phased manner, over a seven month ramp-up process. The plan is to restore the fleet to 25 aircraft, including two Boeing 737 MAXs. 

Should all go as planned, Comair should exit business rescue by March 31 next year. After that, it should again be a sustainable business. Its fleet should be at full strength by June next year. 

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

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