Flights operated by South African airline Nationwide between Gatwick and Johannesburg have been grounded until further notice.
The airline flew four times a week to South Africa but all its flights were suspended on Friday (November 30) after safety fears were expressed by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA).
In a statement Nationwide’s chief executive officer, Vernon Bricknell, said: “We apologise profusely for any inconvenience or confusion that has been caused. With immediate effect, all flights have been suspended until further notice.
“We have approached the C.A.A. for further details and guidance in respect of any actions they would like us to implement that would enable them to reinstate the Aviation Maintenance Organisation license at which point normal operations will resume.
“Safety is our number number one priority and we will not compromise the safety of our customers or crew. We do not anticipate a prolonged disruption of air service due to the close cooperation that exists between the Civil Aviation Authority and Nationwide Airlines.”
Nationwide also operate internal flights in South Africa, often used for safari, touring and garden tour holidays, and the airline has said passengers affected by the suspension of its services can rebook tickets or receive a full refund.
