Are SA airlines at risk of losing access to US and EU airspace?

Loading player...
GUEST – Guy Leitch - Aviation Analyst



SOURCE: [BusinessDay News]



SA runs the risk of being denied access to US and EU airspace should it continue contravening laws that govern the investigation of civil aviation accidents.



Such a move would devastate tourism between SA and its key trading partners.

The risk, identified by the department of transport in its draft civil aviation policy, means EU and US airlines could also be barred from entering SA’s airspace, forming a double-edged sword pointed at Africa’s largest economy, which identifies tourism as a key economic growth lever.



This risk, which the department of transport will table before the cabinet, exists because SA has not established an independent body to investigate aviation accidents and incidents as required by annex 13 to the Chicago Convention, which demands accident investigations be conducted independently and impartially.



That task is carried out by the Civil Aviation Authority, which is insufficiently independent of the government, according to the Chicago Convention.
28 May 2025 2PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

SA Homeowner growth steady, report finds

Hayley Ivins-Downes from Lightstone Property shares data about home-buying activity in South Africa, which paints an interesting picture about affordability and which specific parts of the country are seeing the most development.
27 Mar 5AM 11 min

INSIDE YOUR POCKET – South Africa’s consumer credit market steady

Data from TransUnion shows that South African credit usage has shown tentative recovery to a more broad-based recovery, with first-time buyers now accounting for just over half of financed purchases. Ayeshaa Hatea, from TransUnion South Africa, explains these findings and more.
27 Mar 5AM 11 min

Pivot Point - Building Africa’s Vaccine Sovereignty

Today on Pivot Point, we spotlight a leader whose work sits at the intersection of science, industrialization, and national security. Dr. Morena Makhoana, the CEO of Biovac, has spent two decades shaping South Africa’s vaccine manufacturing landscape and unpacks that journey.
27 Mar 5AM 25 min

Africa’s Trade Links Strengthen; Future Geopolitical Risks Loom

Data from Standard Bank signalled significant growth in intra-African trade in the past year, showing positive moment towards the continent achieving a successful AfCFTA. However, that picture could be complicated by recent tensions in the Middle East. For more on this let’s listen in to, Philip Myburgh, Head: Trade for…
25 Mar 4PM 12 min