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Transport News

Mbalula provides clarity on aviation directives

By: Simone Liedtke 31st March 2020 Since the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa that South Africa would embark on a 21-day national lockdown, the majority of aviation activities have slowed dramatically, with all domestic airlines having halted passenger flights effective from the start of the lockdown. South Africa’s... →

Air transport body warns that world airlines are burning up their cash at an alarming rate

By: Rebecca Campbell 31st March 2020 International commercial aviation representative body the International Air Transport Association (IATA) published a new analysis on March 31 that indicated that the world’s airlines would, during the second quarter of this year, suffer a total net loss of $39-billion. They would also expend... →

Two unions jointly attack the government over regional airline SA Express

By: Rebecca Campbell 31st March 2020 In a joint statement on March 31, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) and the South African Cabin Crew Association (Sacca) have blasted the government over its handling of the crisis in State-owned regional airline SA Express. Their response was to a statement on the... →

UNTU calls for PPE for Transnet employees as iron ore line reopens

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 30th March 2020 The United National Transport Union (UNTU) has acknowledged the decision of Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe to reopen the iron ore rail line operated by State-owned Transnet. This will require Transnet employees from various divisions to be ready to report for duty from March... →

Transnet

Public Enterprises to study liquidation application by SA Express business rescue practitioners

By: News24Wire 30th March 2020 Allegations by the business rescue practitioners of SA Express that the government deliberately withheld financial support from them, and that the state's approach to the business rescue process was unconstructive are baseless, the Department of Public Enterprises has said. The department on... →

Engen refinery temporarily shut amid low demand

By: Donna Slater 30th March 2020 The Durban-based petroleum refinery of fuels, lubricants and oil-based products distributor and marketer Engen has undergone a temporary controlled shut down, effective March 27, as a result of forecasted lower demand for petroleum products during the national lockdown which came into effect from... →

No more taxpayers’ money for regional airline SA Express

By: Rebecca Campbell 30th March 2020 The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) issued a press release on March 29 regarding the business rescue process for State-owned regional airline SA Express. In it, the DPE stated it “noted” that the airline’s Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs) had made a court application to liquidate SA... →

Insurers try to ease burden on policyholders amid Covid-19 pandemic

By: Donna Slater 30th March 2020 To help ease the financial burden potentially brought to some people by the slow-down in business during the coronavirus pandemic and national lockdown, Momentum Short-Term Insurance (MSTI) is giving clients early access to R26-million in future no-claims and safety bonuses. To provide immediate... →

Opinion: Transport sector expected to play a key role during lockdown

27th March 2020 As we wake up to a country in lockdown, the rules are still being written and the full impact of the coronavirus for South Africa is yet ahead. Making sense of our new circumstances and adapting to the fast-changing new reality is overwhelming. At the same time it requires exceptional leadership... →

Transnet scales back to only essential services, operations

By: Simone Liedtke 27th March 2020 In line with government’s implementation of a three-week lockdown of the country to reduce the spread of the Covid-19 virus, State-owned entity Transnet will be scaling down its transportation services and operations of non-essential cargo during this period. After consultation with various... →

International air transport body urges global economic group to act to save aviation

By: Rebecca Campbell 27th March 2020 On March 26 the International Air Transport Association (Iata) addressed an appeal, on behalf of the global airline industry, to the leaders of the Group of 20 leading economic powers (G20). The G20 members together accounted for some 85% of the world’s gross domestic product, more than 75% of... →

Carrier suspends operations days after issuing safety assurances

By: Rebecca Campbell 27th March 2020 State-owned regional airline SA Express, which is currently in business rescue, suspended its operations on Wednesday March 18. This was because of “adverse recent developments including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.” →

Covid-19 forces SAA to cut services

By: Rebecca Campbell 27th March 2020 State-owned national flag carrier South African Airways (SAA), which was undergoing business rescue, has scaled down its capacity because of the fall in air passenger demand. This is the result of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has severely affected the global air transport industry. Under these... →

Iata urges action to keep fragile global air transport sector functioning

By: Rebecca Campbell 27th March 2020 The global airline industry is extremely vulnerable to the economic effects of the Covid-19 virus, a recently released analysis by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has shown. IATA Chief Economist Brian Pearce highlighted that, of all the airlines in the world, only some 30 were... →

Air transport bodies appeal for responsible action amid Covid-19 disruptions

By: Rebecca Campbell 27th March 2020 The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reacted to US President Donald Trump’s bans on citizens and residents of European countries from travelling to the US by affirming that the organisation and its members would maintain their support for Governments in their attempts to contain the... →

Various trends shaping Africa’s port infrastructure

By: Tracy Hancock 27th March 2020 The development of inland container terminals, or dry ports, to decongest port traffic is a trend that is gaining significant traction in Africa, says WSP Africa maritime technical director Marthinus Retief. In landlocked Ethiopia, the development of inland dry ports to store containers... →

MARTHINUS RETIEF Africa’s ports need to be larger and deeper to accommodate larger vessels to improve their connectivity to global maritime trade

Communication and planning needed to limit Covid-19 impact on supply chains

By: Schalk Burger 27th March 2020 The impact on supply chains owing to the Covid-19 outbreak and from the closure of ports of entry can be mitigated through identification of potential impacts and early communications among affected stakeholders, says advisory firm Deloitte Africa restructuring services leader Jo Mitchell-Marais.... →

Lack of port development a concern

By: Tracy Hancock 27th March 2020 While there is some movement in the development of South Africa’s port infrastructure by the private sector, the overall stagnation of its development is concerning, law firm Bowmans ports, transport and logistics head Andrew Pike tells Engineering News. He says this lack of activity may largely... →

ANDREW PIKE The Port of Durban is often congested with trucks that should be transporting up to five or more containers a day but only manage one, if lucky

Exports can support greater local automotive development

By: Schalk Burger 27th March 2020 Local economic headwinds may potentially be offset by increasing exports under the African Continental Free Trade Area, says industry body National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) CEO Mike Mabasa. The South African automotive industry currently exports to 155... →

Photo by Donna Slater
QUALITY WORK Ensuring that buyers gain sufficient value and quality of components and services from the value chain drive demand and local manufacturing

Export competitiveness will boost local component manufacturers

By: Schalk Burger 27th March 2020 Replacing imports with locally manufactured components and materials can sustainably improve local supplier development. This is possible if quality standards remain within global benchmarks and if manufacturers can produce sufficient volumes to ensure their costs are competitive for the... →

ARTHUR MTOMBENI collaboration among stakeholders in the automotive value chains and original equipment manufacturers in countries will allow for the creation of a strategic supply base

African automotive industrialisation requires political will, ecosystem

By: Schalk Burger 27th March 2020 Increasing the motorisation rate in Africa from about 42 vehicles per 1000 people to at least the world average of 180 vehicles per 1000 people provide an opportunity for industrialisation, economic growth, balance of payments and job creation in Africa, says industry body African Association of... →

DAVE COFFEY Regional cooperation is important to ensure sustainable automotive industrialisation that benefits of all participating countries

Automotive industry transformation focused on future of mobility

By: Schalk Burger 27th March 2020 Automotive industry transformation initiatives, as captured in the Automotive Masterplan 2035, are aimed at radically transforming the industry to meet the future demands of human mobility, in addition to sustaining and growing the industry’s economic outputs and associated socioeconomic... →

MIKE MABASA There is significant scope for cooperation on skills development, value-chain transformation and supplier development to ensure the sustainability of the automotive industry

Tyre manufacturer building retail markets to secure growth

By: Schalk Burger 27th March 2020 With export and original equipment demand in the automotive industry in Africa growing year on year, it is critical for companies to expand their reach into high-growth markets in Africa to secure long-term growth, says Sumitomo Rubber South Africa (Sumitomo Dunlop) CEO and National Association... →

NEW TYRES The performance standards, wear characteristics and manufacturing requirements of tyres used on electric vehicles are different to those used on internal combustion engine vehicles

Policy certainty to support automotive manufacturing growth

By: Schalk Burger 27th March 2020 The broad support for the Automotive Masterplan 2035 by companies across the value chain and the certainty that it creates supports local vehicle-manufacturing growth and, consequently, for the automotive components industry to increase supply, says Sumitomo Rubber South Africa (Sumitomo Dunlop)... →

PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY Sumitomo Dunlop has grown its local tyre production and capacity on the certainty created by original equipment manufacturers’ plans

SA automotive manufacturing long-term planning, growth supported by policy

By: Schalk Burger 27th March 2020 The National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM) has been part of the fabric of the South African automotive manufacturing landscape for over 40 years. In that time the sector has evolved from a highly protected, inward-focused production base that exclusively... →

SAA business rescue plan to be published in May, acting CEO steps down

By: Rebecca Campbell 26th March 2020 The business rescue practitioners (BRPs) for South African Airways (SAA) have been given an extension to May 29 to publish the business rescue plan for the airline. The business plan was previously set to be published on March 31, amid a national lockdown to try to prevent the further spread of... →

Transnet appoints new acting CFO

By: Marleny Arnoldi 26th March 2020 State-owned freight utility Transnet has appointed Mark Gregg-Macdonald acting CFO following the resignation of acting CFO Mohammed Mahomedy. The utility is in the process of recruiting a permanent group CFO. →

Bakwena Corridor in R582m upgrade

By: Irma Venter 26th March 2020 Bakwena Platinum Corridor Concessionaire (Bakwena) is adding 32 km of a second carriageway on the N4 between the M17 and R512 (Brits Interchange). The project costs R58-million with a 36-month construction period, and is scheduled to be completed in June next year. →

Air transport body calls on governments to facilitate air freight to help fight Covid-19

By: Rebecca Campbell 26th March 2020 The International Air Transport Association (Iata), the global representative body of the air transport industry, has appealed to governments around the world to facilitate air cargo operations. Air cargo charter flights, which are replacing suspended passenger operations, are still facing... →

Unctad says maritime transport of goods helps minimise Covid-19 economic impacts

By: Marleny Arnoldi 26th March 2020 As the world battles the coronavirus pandemic, the global maritime transport industry is playing a critical role in the response to keep goods moving, says intergovernmental body, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad). It emphasises that a call by the global maritime... →

Train services suspended for duration of lockdown - Mbalula

By: African News Agency 25th March 2020 All commuter rail services will shut down for the duration of South Africa's national lockdown, transport minister Fikile Mbalula said on Wednesday. "All long-distance passenger rail services, both public and private, will stop operations for the duration of the lockdown. Services of Shosholoza... →

Iata forecasts much worse Covid-19 impact on airlines than previously predicted

By: Rebecca Campbell 25th March 2020 The latest analysis of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the revenues of airlines worldwide, undertaken by their global representative body, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), has indicated that it will be much worse than previously believed. IATA has now estimated that this... →

Photo by IATA
Alexandre de Juniac

SAA to suspend all domestic flights from Friday as SA goes into lockdown

By: African News Agency 25th March 2020 National carrier South African Airways said it would suspend all its domestic flights from Friday until April 16 in compliance with a 21-day government lockdown announced by President to curb the spread of Covid-19. It said it would provide support to passengers intending to change their travel... →

Boeing announces work suspension at major plants owing to Covid-19

By: Rebecca Campbell 24th March 2020 US aerospace giant Boeing announced on March 23 that it was temporarily suspending production at its facilities in the Puget Sound area of the US state of Washington. The suspension would start on March 25 and would run for 14 days. The decision was taken following the proclamation, that same... →

Airline body thanks regulators for showing flexibility

By: Rebecca Campbell 23rd March 2020 The global airline industry’s representative organisation, the International Air Transport Association (Iata), has expressed gratitude to aviation regulators around the world for showing flexibility regarding non-safety-critical regulations, in order to support air transport around the world.... →

Airbus, Boeing take steps to improve liquidity amid Covid-19 spread

By: Simone Liedtke 23rd March 2020 Aviation company Airbus is continuing to assess the ongoing situation and the impact of the coronavirus, which causes the Covid-19 disease, on its business, customers, suppliers and the industry. It has, in the interim, announced measures to bolster its liquidity and balance sheet in response to... →

SAA has also suspended its African regional flights

By: Rebecca Campbell 23rd March 2020 On Friday and Saturday, South African Airways (SAA) suspended all its regional flights – that is, flights to other African countries – until May 31. This followed the airline’s suspension of all its international flights earlier on Friday. This decision was taken “to support the Government... →

Photo by SAA
An Airbus A320 of SAA

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