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Golf_Seirra
6th Dec 2008, 15:51
A new domestic airline will take to South African skies in January, injecting much-needed competition into the local airline industry.

Operating from Durban, Airtime Airlines will start commercial operations on January 4 and eventually set up a route network of nine scheduled return flights a day, three each to Johannesburg, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.

There is also the possibility of international operations commencing once the King Shaka International airport at La Mercy is opened in 2010.

The birth of the new low-cost airline will fill a desperately needed competitive position in the market, made even larger with the departure of Nationwide Airlines earlier in 2008 due to liquidation.



Koomaresen Eargambram, the aviation consultant responsible for the airline's commercial operations, said although it was a low-cost airline, it would offer competitive airfares, free snacks, drinks and a daily newspaper.

Also included in the ticket price would be one free bag-wrap for a passenger's checked-in baggage.

KZN Tourism CEO Ndabo Khoza said he had not been aware of the introduction of the new airline but was excited at the prospect.

Furthermore, it "can go a long way" towards aviation development for the new airport, as it was not only international flights that were needed but also a strong domestic network.

He said competition in the domestic airline industry was needed and he had been disappointed when plans for another airline to take over Nationwide had failed.

"If you look at what happened in the aviation industry, Nationwide was operating and was making money. I think if (this airline) has a very good business model then it could work and it could make money.

"As a province, if the airline decides to hub in Durban then that is good for us."

Khoza also said he was interested in the extent to which Airtime Airlines would become a regional player and link the city with others such as Botswana, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Namibia.

Operating a fleet of three leased Boeing 737s, the airline will begin its operations with flights between Durban and Johannesburg.

A website will be launched on December 14 and bookings will open thereafter.

With the pay-off line Durban's Connexion, the airline's target market is the young corporate executive and self-employed business person.

Eargambram said the airline would also introduce a loyalty programme called iFLY Airtime early in the new year.

Payments for flight bookings may be done via bank ATMs, online banking or cellphone banking.

"This means that you may book your flight now and pay later. Payment via credit cards will be available but is not encouraged due to high levels of fraud. You will pay the same fare regardless of the booking method used but you will be rewarded when using mobile SMS and being part of the iFLY Airtime loyalty programme," he said.

Car hire will also be incorporated early in the new year and the introduction of a fleet of new-generation aircraft is planned for the third quarter of 2009, Eargambram said.

Airfares and information will be available via mobile SMS function to the SMS short code number 32FLY (32359), the call centre on 086 100 2FLY (086 100 2359) or www.flyairtime (http://www.flyairtime). co.za.

"We are marketing the airline as a Durban-based airline with flights originating and terminating in Durban. We view Durban as the Singapore of South Africa," Eargambram said.





This article was originally published on page 4 of Cape Argus (http://www.capeargus.co.za/) on December 06, 2008
Flyairtime.co.za

A quick whois on www.flyairtime.co.za (http://www.flyairtime.co.za) indicates that it is owned by Blackbird Aerospace Corporation (Pty) Ltd, with a postal adress at Blackbird Aviation Centre, 2A Jan Smuts. The billing address is to Interprise (Pty) Ltd, with email [email protected] ([email protected]), postal adress "PO Box 1161, Rivonia, 2128" and phone number 011 560 9000.
Blackbird Aerospace Corporation

Blackbird Aerospace Corporation is owned by Koomaresen Eargambram.
Postal Address
Registered Address
P O BOX 57705
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
DURBAN
KwaZulul-Natal
4029
South Africa
SUITE 01
SPEKTRA HOUSE
699 STELLA ROAD
4001
South Africa

History of Airtime Airlines

4 Jan 2009
Commercial flights are scheduled to begin between Durban and Johannesburg.
6 Dec 2008
the Independent Online group tells the world about Airtime Airlines in a news story (http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=181&art_id=vn20081206102004648C659599).
15 Mar 2008
The Times writes a story about Koomaresen Eargambram (http://www.thetimes.co.za/PrintEdition/News/Article.aspx?id=727595), South Africa's first black pilot who's dream is to open a domestic airline.
Sep 2007
Koomaresen Eargambram resigns from SAA to take up a position as chief executive of Blackbird Aerospace Corporation (the initial plan was to expand Blackbird Aerospace Corporation into flight training for pilots and cabin crew by buying out the Natal Flight Academy (the oldest flying school in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa).
1988
Koomaresen Eargambram becomes the first black pilot (http://152.111.1.251/argief/berigte/dieburger/1988/03/29/23/15.html) in the South African Air Force (http://www.af.mil.za/).



Pioneering pilot ready to spread his wingsSubashni NaidooPublished:Mar 15, 2008http://www.thetimes.co.za/thumbnail.aspx?type=img&id=105246
Reaching for the sky: Koomaresen Eargambram plans to launch a domestic airline. Picture: Richard Shorey
Koomaresen Eargambram made headlines 20 years ago when he became the country’s first black pilot.



Today, Eargambram owns an aviation company and is planning to set up a domestic airline.
His company is involved in aircraft sales, maintenance and management, pilot training, airport planning and air- service operations.
Last Sunday, he invited a group of corporate clients for a 45-minute demonstration flight from Durban International Airport in a 26-million jet his company will be acquiring later this year. He also plans to buy two smaller 10-million jets to establish a domestic airline based in Durban.

“Our company is in discussions with representatives from a Brazilian aircraft manufacturing company regarding the acquisition of corporate jets for the business aviation division. There are also discussions regarding the feasibility of starting up a domestic airline to be based in Durban,” he said.
His aviation career began 20 years ago when he was accepted by the South African Air Force (SAAF) to train as a pilot.
“I earned my wings on Harvards — single-engine training aircraft — and thereafter flew military helicopters. I was the first person of colour to qualify as a military pilot in South Africa’s armed forces.”
Seven years later, he quit the SAAF and joined South African Airways as a pilot flying commercial jets on domestic and international routes.
In September last year, he took up a position as chief executive of Blackbird Aerospace Corporation (BAC).
“I resigned from SAA to expand BAC into flight training for pilots and cabin crew by buying out the Natal Flight Academy, which is the oldest flying school in KwaZulu-Natal, and we are now beginning a corporate aviation venture to be based at Durban International Airport.”
He said he was determined to make a contribution to improving the aviation industry in South Africa.


The plot thickens..... Index (http://www.natalflightacademy.co.za/) website address has been registered for our client.
NATAL FLIGHT ACADEMY

Blackbird Aviation Centre
Suite 18, Main Terminal Building, Virginia Airport
Durban North
South Africa
Facsimile: +27 31 5632126
Telephone: +27 31 5644720
Email: [email protected]

Golf_Seirra
6th Dec 2008, 16:02
Business Day (Johannesburg)

21 August 2008

Julius Baumann
Johannesburg


Quote:
TIME is fast running out for Blackbird Aerospace to seal its acquisition of failed low-cost airline Nationwide ahead of the peak summer season.

"If we are to relaunch Nationwide we need to do it ahead of the peak season to benefit from the increase in demand. It just makes economic sense," said Vino Eargambram, head of Blackbird Aerospace.

For Blackbird to achieve its target to launch at the beginning of November, the parties needed to sign the deal in the next few days, he said.

If Blackbird's proposal succeeded Nationwide would be moved to Durban International Airport and would initially use the Boeing 737s now in Nationwide's fleet. But this was only a short-term measure as Eargambram would replace the fleet with a newer, more fuel-efficient Embraer fleet. Blackbird had secured aircraft ranging from the 70-seat Embraer 170 to the 120-seat Embraer 195.

Eargambram said while Embraer jets seated fewer passengers, it would make it easier to maintain viable load factors.

The conclusion of the section 311 offer or scheme of arrangement proposed by the liquidators hangs in the balance as the standoff between the airline's liquidator and founder Vernon Bricknell continues.

Under section 311 of the Companies Act, if 75% of the creditors by value agree to the proposal at a court-sanctioned meeting of creditors, the airline may be discharged from liquidation and sold as a going concern.

At issue is Blackbird's undertaking to honour unredeemed tickets by issuing vouchers to be used to issue new tickets to the revived Nationwide. The tickets must be reused within a year of the airline starting up again. But Blackbird is considering revising this to six months.

John Cameron, attorney for the Vernon Bricknell Trust, which holds shares in the four Nationwide companies (Nationwide Airlines, Nationwide Charter, Nationwide Maintenance and Nationwide Support), said the trust wanted Blackbird to underwrite the R71m in unused tickets with a bank guarantee.

If Blackbird was unable or unwilling to provide the guarantee, the trust would not sign over any shares, which is central to the success of the scheme of arrangement.

Eargrambram said Blackbird would not agree to the guarantee. "With the surge in the fuel price, Nationwide's ticket liability has risen 30%-40% in real terms. Also, Nationwide never guaranteed its tickets before it went into liquidation. Why should we now have to carry that burden?"

Cameron said that if no guarantee could be provided, the trust would want R3m-R4m for the shares in Nationwide Support. "Subsequent to the liquidation of Nationwide Support, we have had huge demand for the assets of the company, and we believe it still holds value," said Cameron. Nationwide Support provided the ground handling of Nationwide.

Haroon Laher, attorney for Nationwide and a director of law firm Glyn Marais, said the scheme of arrangement was the last and best option left to the liquidators. "If this scheme fails, then we will have to proceed to final liquidation, which will leave the creditors and ticket holders poorer."

Sir Osis of the river
7th Dec 2008, 10:44
Gotta be very brave or stooopid to start a new airline in the current economic climate. :ugh:

(Also, when will they learn that SAA does not want competitors in the domestic market? :oh:)

RunwayBlueOne
7th Dec 2008, 18:21
Wonder if they are hoping to pick up the ex-Nationwide 732's going on auction tomorrow at Ortia for less than market value. If those birds go for $300,000-$500,000 USD it'll be a steal as their current worth was around $1.8 m in an ideal market.

i-Robot
8th Dec 2008, 08:32
start a new airline in the current economic climate

Actually, it's the perfect time to start a new low cost in SA. Nationwide have left a gaping hole in the market, and only smart entrepreneurial skills combined with a strong sense of business will prove this venture a success. These kinds of LCC's are not competing with SAA and Mango directly (that's where Comair and Kulula come in), but in direct competition with 1time (who don't have a similar competitor in the market, yet).

Well done, and good luck, Vino. :ok:

i-Robot
8th Dec 2008, 13:00
Both these LCC's have larger and entrenched parent companies. So, both are not entirely independent or left to their own devices. Executive decisions made at Mango or Kulula need consultation from the bigger fish...

Kulula and Mango will never be low cost carriers in the true sense, like Ryan Air or EasyJet.

Golf_Seirra
8th Dec 2008, 13:58
Any idea if Paul Green is involved in this one ? Or any of the other Durban players....I would suspect Vivian Reddy must have a hand in this one....all that money from the casino's and Edison Power, must be buring a tax hole in his pocket.....

There is obviously bigger money coming in from off-shore.....wonder if Sir Richard has been snagged....:E

Free samoosa's and virgin cola.....wining combination.

grjplanes
8th Dec 2008, 14:31
There is obviously bigger money coming in from off-shore.....wonder if Sir Richard has been snagged....http://static.pprune.org/images/smilies/evil.gif

Then it would have been called something more acceptable like Virgin Green/Yellow/Purple...but now it seems to be something strange like Airtime or Freetime...maybe Vodacom's got something to do with it. The name is just too similiar to 1Time, I won't be happy if I were them.

Btw, any news on the auction of Nationwide's 737s?

The way I understand is that it will start with only flights to JNB, the CPT and PLZ later on...is it really viable to think PLZ with 3 daily 737?

divinehover
8th Dec 2008, 15:29
Another cheap operation flying cheap old equipment.

evanb
8th Dec 2008, 16:48
Cheap operations can't work on old equipment in the long run. The maintenance costs on those birds will just be too high. It can only be successful if they are an interim measure and the entire capital cost of the aircraft are written off immediately and they don't intend to keep them serviceable past their next significant maintenance check.

Economic downturns are not bad times to start airlines since one is able to pick up equipment and staff on the cheap - just ask 1Time!

That said, I would not be too keen to fly on 737-200s anymore, they are getting really long in the tooth ... some of them are almost old enough to be grandparents!

Flyer14
8th Dec 2008, 18:57
NTW had 3 732's built in 79 and none of the others where younger than 1983.

Q4NVS
8th Dec 2008, 19:07
My guess is an initial Wet Lease until arrival of the E-Jets...However long that might take (if ever).

:zzz:

skyloone
8th Dec 2008, 19:58
I know I'm stating the obvious... but good cash position and finance options are the key. Now is the time to pick up unwanted a/c orders. New a/c are the only long term and sustainable way to go. Just take a look at the worlds leading LCC's. I gather Ryanair managed to even avoid ever paying for some of their early new birds. Were sold before payed for due to a rather clever deal or two. Maintenance becomes a non event and you can fly the birds like hell. Fuel bills are lower etc.. etc..

However.. LCC in SA need to make a radical change to the way they manage pax perceptions of what they are getting and what they are not getting. When last in SA was staggered not to have to pay check in fees and bag fees etc... And the free snacks and newspapers. Is this guy serious, these are very critical revenue streams. Contract out all none core activities, charge pax and penalise non contractual compliance by suppliers. Sounds harsh but hey... makes the figures work. There also appears to be no form of yield management booking systems. Is this correct. Paying via ATM's is it done and does it work. Who carries the Credit card & ATM charges? All small bits here and there, but add it up over a year.

Anyway... my two cents worth over. Now just looking forward to another trip down South next month.