SAA reaches a settlement with US

South African Airways (SAA) has reached a settlement with the United States Department of Transportation’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection to pay $300,000 (R5.4 million) for Covid-19-era flight cancellations or deviations. This penalty is related to refunds for flights that were canceled during the Covid grounding of airline operations. 

The settlement allows SAA to avoid protracted litigation, and the penalty will be paid to the US Treasury in installments over 540 days from the issuance date of the consent order. Despite the challenges posed by Business Rescue and the pandemic, SAA has taken steps to process refunds for passengers affected by flight cancellations or significant delays, not only in the USA but throughout its markets.