To kill the Safair take over of 1time, I pulled this off the web:
http://www.businessday.co.za/article...x?ID=BD4A93657
Companies
Posted to the web on: 20 September 2005
1Time takes cheap fares to rest of Africa
Carli Lourens
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Classic Business Day Transcript: 1Time - eyeing international routes
Trade and Industry Editor
THE first low-fare cross-border flights in Africa could take off next year, with South African airline 1Time saying that plans are at an advanced stage.
The no-frills, low-fare airline said yesterday that an announcement could be made in the next few weeks, and it hoped to launch the first flight next year.
1Time marketing director Rodney James said the undisclosed destination was between two and three hours away, and that the country was not a direct neighbour of SA.
He said the airline that operated the route at the moment ran at full capacity most of the time.
1Time also announced yesterday that it had concluded a R20m deal with Imperial Group subsidiary Safair for the acquisition of an MD83 aircraft to enter into service at the end of the month.
1Time CE Glenn Orsmond said that the longer-range capabilities of the new aircraft compared with its current MD82s would give the airline the flexibility to expand its services into Africa.
Orsmond said that the lease cost was fixed in rand terms for the duration of the contract, which made the deal “very attractive”. He said the lease rate was also based on depressed post-September 11 aircraft values, which ensured 1Time a long-term cost advantage.
The airline said the larger aircraft would enable it to keep fares low, despite high jet fuel prices.
The MD83 will replace one of 1Time’s 110-seater DC9-32 aircraft.
1Time now operates a fleet of six aircraft, carrying 80000 passengers a month. The low-fare carrier recently launched its first coastal route — between East London and Cape Town.