The chartered craft, a Zimbabwe Air Boeing, had already been given permission to leave South Africa and land again on the return leg and included a planned fuel stopover in Jakarta. Photo: Getty ImagesAn application to allow a private mercy flight to bring back 185 New Zealanders and visa holders stranded in South Africa has been refused, but more information is being sought from the company behind the chartered flight. "The proposed Air Zimbabwe flight being chartered by Maple Aviation has not received flight authorisation," economic regulation manager Tom Forster said. "At this stage New Zealand's focus is for the small number of remaining New Zealand citizens in South Africa to use existing commercially-operated flights out of South Africa to return to New Zealand." The chartered craft, a Zimbabwe Air Boeing, had already been given permission to leave South Africa and land again on the return leg and included a planned fuel stopover in Jakarta.

Source: Otago Daily Times August 28, 2020 04:18 UTC