/ 19 January 1999

AIR LESOTHO GROUNDED

AIR Lesotho will fold its wings on February 6. “Heavy losses from August 1997 to December 1998” were blamed by the privatisation unit of the Lesotho ministry of finance for closing the national air carrier. The firm was established in 1997 after privatising Lesotho Airways. Since then is has lost approximately R200000 per month, according to Eddie Absil, the airline’s chief executive. Ross Air, a Johannesburg firm, has bought Air Lesotho, insuring no disruption of international air traffic.