South Africans invited to name new airline
As low-cost Kulula.com founder Gidon Novick prepares to launch a new airline, he has invited South African’s to come up with a name for the carrier. The new airline, which was inspired by Uber, is a partnership between Novick and leading South African Airbus A320 operator Global Aviation. The new airline’s first flight is scheduled for sometime in December and will operate on the world’s 12th busiest route, between Johannesburg and Cape Town.
When it comes to naming the airline, Nowick says he wants people to come up with a creative name that is unique and cool. Ideally, it should be catchy, easy to say, and memorable. Entries can be posted on the website brandnewairline.co.za, and the winner will be announced within the next couple of weeks. The person who comes up with the winning name will receive a year’s free travel under the conditions listed below:
A year’s worth of flights on ‘airline X’ comprising 12 return flights for two (winner + partner) Max value of R2000 per person per flight Travel must be used within 12 months of winning. When speaking to South African business website Business Tech about his latest venture, Novick said,
“The pandemic has created a unique opportunity to start an airline that is not only dramatically more efficient but also inventive and creative by tapping into the unique talent that our country offers.” He added that the airlines’ team includes experienced industry veterans and fresh thinkers from the hospitality and tech sectors.
The new airline is to be fully funded with private capital and not carry any debts, saying that debt can do incredible damage to a business, and especially to one involved in the travel sector. “Staying away from debt is absolutely key to the success of launching a new low-cost airline,” he said.
To keep the costs down, the airline will start with older aircraft like Boeing 737s or Airbus A320s that will either be bought outright or leased.
