Comair awarded R1.16bn for SAA travel agents deal

The Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg) has awarded Comair R1.16bn for anti-competitive conduct by national carrier SAA‚ Comair said last week, according to a TimesLIVE report. The judgment related to a case initiated by Comair against SAA 14 years ago in respect of SAA’s anti-competitive travel agent incentive schemes. Comair is the second airline to succeed in a claim against SAA concerning the national airline's anti-competitive conduct. Last year the court ruled in favour of Nationwide‚ awarding it R104m. The cases arise from SAA’s agreements with travel agents from 2001 whereby SAA paid them to divert customers to SAA rather than other airlines. ‘In terms of the judgment‚ Comair was awarded R554m‚ plus interest at 15.5% thereon‚ which will be capped at the value of the award‚ plus costs‚ amounting to approximately R1.16bn in total‚’ the company said in a statement.