Cape Town – Next time you see a passenger boarding a plane with a five-litre bottle of water, don’t be alarmed.
It is just someone on their way to Cape Town.
Domestic airlines are allowing passengers travelling to Cape Town to carry the water as hand luggage, as their contribution to the city’s water crisis.
FlySafair said it implemented the measure two weeks ago.
“What we recognise is that our customers, like all South Africans, are desperate to try to help in whatever way they can.
"That said, we do want people to be informed about the environmental impact of carrying water by air, because transporting water this way is far more carbon intensive than transporting it by other means,” said Kirby Gordon, FlySafair sales and distribution head.
The water must be stowed beneath the seat in front of the passenger and the offer was not available to those seated in emergency exits or bulkhead rows.
“We recommend purchasing square five-litre bottles which are easier to stow and less likely to roll around.
Please preference sealed bottles as this will be preferred by airport security."
“Customers travelling to Cape Town are welcome to bring bottled water on board as part of their allocated baggage allowance, as long as the containers are within the permitted weight and size requirements for baggage, are properly sealed and can be stowed safely.” okuhle.hlati@inl.co.za Cape Argus