Swazi Airways

Swazi Airways was an Swazi airline based at King Mswati III International Airport in Manzini. It is the successor to Royal Swazi National Airways and is fully owned by the Swaziland Government. The airline had stated in September 2016 that it would commence flights in November, flying from Manzini to destinations in South Africa and Zimbabwe. It was closed down in July 2017.[1]

Swazi Airways
IATA ICAO Callsign
- - -
Founded2016
Ceased operations2017
HubsKing Mswati III International Airport (Manzini)
Fleet size1
Parent companyRoyal Swazi National Airways Corporation (RSNAC)
Key peopleGuillermo Barrios, acting CEO
Nokuthula Mthembu, chairman of RSNAC
Websiteflyswazi.com

History

In 2013, the Royal Swazi National Airways Corporation was revived in order to create a new national airline.[2] The former flag carrier of Swaziland, Royal Swazi National Airways, had collapsed in 1999. The Ministry of Public Works and Transport appointed Nokuthula Mthembu as chairman of the corporation.[3]

The airline was revived to transform King Mswati III International Airport into a regional airline hub, which had opened in March 2014 but suffered from under-utilisation.[4][5]

In early 2014, the Swaziland Government signed bilateral agreements with ten countries, nine in Africa and one in the Middle East, in order to secure air traffic rights between the nations.[6][7]

Swazi Airways took delivery of a Boeing 737-300 in February 2016.[8] However, in September the airline said that it would begin operations in November using regional, 50-seater aircraft. Short-haul flights to South Africa and Zimbabwe were to be operated initially.[9]

Corporate affairs

Swazi Airways was a subsidiary of the Royal Swazi National Airways Corporation, which is fully owned by the Swaziland Government. The acting CEO of the airline was Guillermo Barrios, a Venezuelan-Canadian.[10]

Destinations

Swazi Airways planned to operate flights from its Manzini hub to Durban, Cape Town, and Harare.[9]

Fleet

Swazi Airways obtained a single Boeing 737–300 in February 2016,[8] but it planned to launch operations with 50-seater regional aircraft.[9]

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See also

References
  1. Swazi Airways shuts down after failing to launch. ch-aviation, 29 July 2017.
  2. Makhubu, Manqoba (14 January 2016). "Swazi Air ready to fly to Dubai, Cape Town, India, Durban". Swazi Observer. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  3. Simelane, Musa (4 June 2013). "Airways Board ordered to buy SD airline". Times of Swaziland. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  4. "Swazi Airways to launch next month". ch-aviation. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  5. Gwebu, Titus (13 January 2014). "Swaziland seeks to justify cost of airport by restarting airline". Independent Online. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  6. "Royal Swazi National Airways about to get non-stop air access to key countries". Eturbonews. 5 January 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  7. Magagula, Mduduzi (5 January 2014). "10 destinations from Sikhuphe". Times of Swaziland. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  8. "Swazi Airways takes delivery of its first aircraft". ch-aviation. 28 February 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  9. Clark, Oliver (26 September 2016). "Swazi Airways to begin flights in November". Flightglobal. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  10. Simelane, Musa (14 January 2016). "New Swazi Airways maiden flight in February". Times of Swaziland. Retrieved 24 January 2016.

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