Updated
May 22, 2004
Gambia Tourist Support - Advert
Sierra National Airlines (code LJ)
In an extraordinary incident at Banjul Airport, many ticket holding passengers were unable to board the flight (without paying over additional money) as the flight was over booked
Red
Air
Operates NO more
Sierra National
Sierra Nat's response
Drama on the return
New
SN Flight problem
In November RedAir got me a seat out to Gambia on a Sierra National Airlines
flight.
It was an excellent in flight service, but the incident tonight at Banjul will do nothing to improve its reputation.
It is seems obvious that these African based airlines operating through Gambia (Red Air) (SNA) are fine when things wok out but have no customer charter and are difficult to deal with when things go wrong.
There will be 350 odd happy passengers on CLASSIC flight 053 tonight, but there is no assurance for them that there will be available seats to fly them back.
I have since contacted the Airline's UK office who explained that on Schedule flights it is necessary to confrim at least 72 hours before the flight. Kabs did do that, and he purchsed the ticket for the first available seat and was booked on that plane by passing over the payment he thought he was confirming his journey - As I would have. No compensation was offered
At present, Kabs will not be arriving in the UK after all - and the alternative £750 flight with SN Brussels is looking in retrospect, expensive but reliable.
Comments to GTS
I spoke to Kabs at the airport tonight around midnight Gambia time, where around 20 armed Gambian soldiers had been called to keep order in a scene that was obviously full of anger and tension as passengers with tickets were being turned away as there were no available seats.
I spoke to two such passengers who amid the confusion told me there were armed soldiers holding people back.
Money was seen changing hands between passengers and staff but without bribes passengers like Kabs were not allowed to board the plane. I asked Kabs to get as many names and contact details of other passenger involved and he will go to the offices of Sierra National Airlines in Serekunda in the morning for more information.
Sierra National Airlines are hard to contact - they have no website and few details are available about them. Their number given by the Gatwick switch board is 01293 579000, this was answered by a recorded message from a representative of the airline explaining that the offices are closed on public holidays but are open from 9 - 5.30 on Mondays to Fridays.
The flight scheduled to leave Banjul at 22.30, Gambian time, flight number CLASSIC 053, was delayed due to the scenes between angry passengers, airport officials and armed guards.
In January 2003 with the suspension of RED AIR flights, I was stranded in The Gambia and had to pay for another ticket to get home. Like many others I sent of copies of my original ticket and its replacement, to claim a refund, I have heard nothing since. The desks of REDAIR UK are no longer manned and the Kamino Redcoat freight operation although pleasant are unable to help further as this part of the operation is legally a separate operation. The offices of REDAIR in Gambia have closed and I think it unlikely that the 100's of passengers involved will get any compensation from the Gambian operators of the airline.
In a fact sheet for travelers the USA Consular say this of Sierra National Airlines
The national airline, Sierra National Airways, operates chartered European aircraft twice a week between London and Lungi. Some regional airlines service the airport, but are unreliable. It is not uncommon for the airlines to alter scheduled stops, cancel or postpone flights on short notice, and regularly overbook flights. Travelers may experience unexpected delays even after checking in, and should be prepared to handle alternate ticketing and/or increased food and lodging expenses.
I suspect the stranded passengers at Banjul airport will be faced with the same problem and unless Sierra National provide an alternative flight many will presumably loose their money, with no real authority to turn to.
The Africa Travel Association (ATA) maybe one organisation
to approach, established in 1975 to promote travel and tourism opportunities
to the Continent of Africa, their corporate headquarters are at :
347 Fifth Avenue, Suite 610, New York, NY 10016.
Telephone Number: (212) 447-1926
Facsimile Number: (212) 725-8253
E-Mail Address: africatravelasso@aol.com
ATA Website: www.africa-ata.org.
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