Ed Winters, CEO of fastjet, has called on the government to deregulate the market in South Africa in order to create a more level playing field for airlines flying to the country.
Winters states that the current regulatory impediments and bureaucracy are hampering the growth of the industry since regional routes from South Africa to sub-Saharan destinations lack effective competition and are underserviced and overpriced.
"The level of protectionism that we see is incredible, not just in South Africa, but throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Almost every country is protectionist and so keen to continue subsiding their loss-making state airlines," says Winters.
fastjet is interested in setting up a South African operation but is for now keenly watching the court case between Comair and Safair over the local ownership rules and whether this would set new precedents around regulation.