NCC probes FlySafair's overbooking of flights
The National Consumer Commission has launched an investigation into FlySafair for deliberate overbooking and overselling of flight tickets.
This comes after the airline admitted on social media to overbooking, a practice it said is meant to keep flights affordable for passengers.
"The NCC has noted concerns in the media, including social media platforms, regarding incidents of FlySafair overbooking and/or overselling practices," said NCC Head of Complaints and Investigations Prudence Moilwa.
"On this basis, the NCC has initiated an investigation into the conduct of overbooking and/or overselling by FlySafair to assess and review compliance with provisions of the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008."
FlySafair is the country's biggest low-cost airline, with over 5,000 monthly flights.
On Sunday, a customer took to social media to complain about the airline's service, claiming they arrived at the airport only to be told they didn't have seats for the same paid-for flight.
"If you have 200 seats why take payments for 300 passengers?" the customer wanted to know.
The airline responded by apologising for the inconvenience and saying the practice was intended to keep tickets 'affordable' for passengers.
"We do overbook flights to ensure we keep our tickets as affordable as possible for our passengers," the airline said on social media platform X.
"We do see how inconvenient this can be and therefore offer compensation for passengers that were not able to take the flight they've booked."
