Expert warns Durban's tourism could take a knock
A tourism expert says the scrapping of South African Airways' Durban route will have an impact on tourism in the city.
The airline's business rescue practitioners announced last month that flights on all domestic routes except Johannesburg-Cape Town were being grounded.
They said it was one of several measures being taken to conserve costs and transform SAA into a sustainable and profitable entity.
The route cancellations came into effect on Saturday.
Tourism lecturer at Tshwane University of Technology, Unathi Henama says Durban's tourism industry could take a knock.
"KZN's economy, particularly Durban, is driven by tourism and the hospitality sector. A reduction of tourism numbers to a city like Durban is informed obviously by aviation experts. The cessation of flights by SAA will have a sizable impact in reducing tourism numbers to Durban."
READ: Measures in place for affected flights says SAA
Henama says he hopes other airlines will be able to fill the gap.
"These other airlines such as Flights Safair could definitely gain more market share by obviously taking the market share from SAA on the Durban route."
The business rescue practitioners say flights by SAA subsidiary - Mango will continue operating as normal.
The beleaguered state-owned carrier went into voluntary business rescue in December.
Last week - creditors granted the practitioners an extension to publish the business rescue plan.
