The practice, commonly used in the airline industry to manage no-shows, has come under scrutiny after a public outcry from customers who accused the airline of unfair treatment.

The NCC’s investigation aims to assess Fly Safair's compliance with the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008, particularly in relation to the practice of overbooking. The Commission has already requested relevant information from the airline as part of its inquiry.  

Prudence Moilwa, Head of Complaints and Investigations at the NCC, explained that the Commission’s role is to ensure that companies adhere to consumer protection laws, especially when issues such as unfair treatment and economic loss arise from practices like overbooking.

Although overbooking is a common practice used to mitigate the impact of no-shows, Moilwa noted that airlines are required to follow specific procedures if they cannot provide services as promised. The Commission is keen to ensure that consumers are properly informed of the risks and that adequate redress is provided when inconveniences occur.

Moilwa also pointed out that this investigation could have wider implications for the airline industry, as other carriers may face scrutiny over similar practices.  

The NCC is hopeful that this investigation will lead to improved consumer protection policies in the aviation sector. The outcome of the investigation will be closely monitored.

--ChannelAfrica--