South Africa to get new low cost carrier
Gidon Novick, South African entrepreneur has revealed that his proposed new low-cost carrier (LCC) is .aiming to launch operations by the end of the year
June 29, 2020: Gidon Novick, South African entrepreneur has revealed that his proposed new low-cost carrier (LCC) is aiming to launch operations by the end of the year, as per ch-aviation.
The former head of Comair (South Africa) and the pioneer of its Kulula Air budget brand told Tourism Update that the yet-to-be-named carrier will be backed by private capital and will use an existing air operator's certificate (AOC) to target trunk South African routes; Johannesburg O.R. Tambo-Cape Town initially.
In terms of fleet, the LCC will use wholly-owned aircraft - such as the A320, B737-400 or the B737-800 - a model that is favoured by FlySafair (FA, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo) at present.
"We don't plan to be massive or to grow very quickly; keeping it simple, tight, reliable and efficient," he said. "With an aviation industry that has been turned upside down, there is an opportunity from a cost viewpoint to create something very efficient relative to what existing airlines are able to do."
On an exact timeframe for launching, Novick said that would depend on South Africa's market returning to a degree of normalcy as high loads are critical to the LCC model.
Aside from Kulula and FlySafair, South is currently home to another LCC - Mango Airlines.
The minister of transport Fikile Mbalula will hold a press conference soon on the further resumption of operations of South Africa's aviation industry.
