UPDATE: Comair apologises for apparent racist incident.
A contradictory statement issued by Comair for alleged racism on plane.
Local airline franchise Comair has apologised for an apparent racist episode on one of its aircraft.
It said CEO Erik Rudolf Venter had written to the house music duo Black Motion “to apologise unreservedly”.
The two, Thabo Mabogwane and Bongani Mohosa, were escorted against their wishes from off a Comair aircraft in Cape Town.
The pair said this happened after they refused to move from their business class seats to accommodate a white woman in business who was allocated a damaged seat.
She was a silver card frequent flyer member, prioritised by airlines as a matter of global policy.
Comair marketing head Shaun Pozyn said the damaged seat on the aircraft were supposed to be scrapped from the check-in list, but this did not happen.
Staff had to find a way to accommodate the silver card flyer.
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“In considering who could be asked to downgrade, the airport staff then identified non-frequent flyers travelling on discounted business class fares.”
Mabogwane and Mohosane qualified for this and were asked to move to economy class seats.
Pozyn said this was a common airline practice when downgrades occurred.
The duo refused the downgrade and was eventually removed from the aircraft.
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Pozyn said the crew should have handled the situation better despite being under pressure as the flight was delayed.
“Comair will not tolerate racism, which is why we have taken the allegations seriously and investigated swiftly and thoroughly.”
Pozyn said the duo was asked if they would like the investigation to be “independently reviewed”.
Mabogwane and Mohosana could not be reached for comment immediately.
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