Issued by: Department of Transport
Following a foreign operator's permit issued on 31 October 1995 by the Commissioner for Civil Aviation to Caledonian Airways Limited to provide air transport services into South Africa as part of an inclusive tour, various advertisements have appeared in the media marketing tour packages from South Africa into the United Kingdom.
These advertisements reflect a total misrepresentation of the authority granted to Caledonian Airways which allows only for tourists on inclusive tours to be conveyed to South Africa and returned to the United Kingdom on a series of 52 charter flights which will be undertaken between November 1995 and May 1996. The minimum period for any such tour is 7 days.
No legal authority exists to market and sell tour packages for local residents intending to visit the UK. The only exception is the concession granted to sell tickets on a "seat only" basis on the empty legs, i.e the first outbound and the last inbound flights.
Despite bringing to their attention the erroneous interpretation of the actual authority granted and apology received from Caledonian Airways concerning these advertisements, Bluebird Holidays SA, the "tour operator" for the airline is persisting with its marketing campaign claiming that the authority granted allows them the sale of packages from the United Kingdom to South Africa and vice versa.
To give effect to the air charter authority, application must furthermore be made to the Commissioner for the issuance of a tour operators permit. In the application details of the incumbent tour operators as well as the tour packages on offer must be presented. To date no such application has been received.
This statement is made in the interest of South African residents who are planning a holiday in the UK and Europe and who may have been misled by the advertisements. Tourists are urged to consult their travel agents prior to finalising any holiday bookings.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT, PRETORIA
Enquiries: J J Smit Tel: 012 2902601