Growing chaos amid flight delays following more ATNS suspensions

There's growing concern in the aviation industry about the money they're losing because of Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS), which is not able to allow large number of procedures for airlines to use at certain airports.

As a result, when the weather is bad, planes can't take-off or land at these airports.

ATNS confirmed that several instrument flight procedures at airports in Gqeberha, Polokwane and Mpumalanga have been suspended for maintenance after their validity period expired.

Industry observers say the move has disrupted flight schedules and raised fresh concerns about the management and upkeep of South Africa’s air navigation systems.

Speaking to Stephen Grootes on They Money Show, aviation expert Linden Birns says ATNS is clearly in a mess.

"It's indefensible now. The transport minister suspended the CEO of ATNS a year ago, after it became clear they hadn't done this work for up to 12 years, and appointed a special task committee to get their hands on it. But the progress has been glacial." says Birns.

Birns adds that this impacts the economy of the region around these small airports.

"The tragedy is that this affects so many economically fragile places around the country, fragile economies around the country, like Richards Bay", says Birns. 

Listen to the interview in the audio