South Africa to talk to UAE over Emirates Airline new route

South Africa’s transport department says additional journey was granted to the airline by an official who did not have the authority.

South Africa will hold talks with the UAE about a disputed fourth daily Emirates Airline flight to Johannesburg from Dubai that the South African government says was wrongly awarded.

The additional journey was granted to the airline by an official who did not have the authority to do so, said South Africa’s transport department.

When an attempt was made to reverse the decision, Emirates lodged a legal interdict against the department to keep flying.

“Technically, the fourth flight is currently operating on the basis of the court interdict,” the department said. It intends to “withdraw the authorisation by the official who has since been suspended due to this unfortunate situation”.

The Johannesburg-UAE route is a business and tourist link also operated by South African Airways, the unprofitable state-owned airline. SAA is struggling on long-haul routes as an ageing fleet ramps up operating costs, yet cannot afford new planes.

Emirates operates 49 weekly flights to and from Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban and began the fourth daily link to the country’s most populous city last month.

Dipuo Peters, the South African transport minister, delegated the deputy director-general for aviation to travel to the Middle East country for the talks.

“These discussions are taking place within the spirit of progressive bilateral cooperation between South Africa and the UAE” Mr Peters said.

“It’s critical to urgently deal with any issue that may seek to raise questions around our bilateral relations with the UAE.”

The department has no intention to halt Emirates services to South Africa, it said.

Follow The National's Business section on Twitter