LONG-AWAITED new LCC,
Skywise, plans to launch
domestic flights as early
as the beginning of next year,
but under new ownership.
Pak Africa Aviation
announced at the end of
October it was in the process
of purchasing the Air Service
Licence (ASL) of Skywise,
which has been struggling to
launch flights since mid-2012.
The airline was dealt a heavy
blow when the Department of
Transport cancelled its ASL
in April this year because the
airline failed to operate before
the licence expiry date. An
extension of the licence was
eventually obtained.
Pak Africa Aviation ceo,
Tabassum Qadir, told TNW
1time Holdings, which it is still
in the process of purchasing,
would be the JSE-listed
holding company but the LCC
would operate under the name
of Skywise.
Tabassum said Skywise
would begin operating
domestic routes in the
beginning of 2015, deploying
one B737-300 and two
A320s. She would not divulge
which routes were being
considered but added that
regional operations were also
on the cards for the end of
2015. Tabassum added that
the airline would be a true
low-fare carrier but she could
not disclose yet what prices to
expect on the new routes.
She said Skywise would both
retain its name and its original
management team. However,
whether the original Skywise
management team, consisting
of ex-1time founders, Rodney
James, Glenn Orsmond,
Michael Kaminski, and
Johan Borstlap, would stay in
place, remained to be seen.
Wayne Duvenage, who also
forms part of the current
management team, told TNW:
“The original management
team will not participate
in the operation of
Skywise with Pak Africa.
Pak will appoint its own
management team.”
According to Wayne, the
purchase of Skywise from
the original shareholders
includes the ASL and
brand as well as the IT
developments. He added,
however, that the full
ownership transfer from
the original shareholders to
Pak Africa was only partly
concluded, and until the
conditions from both parties
were met, he was unable
to comment on the extent
of final ownership of the
Skywise brand.
Wayne said the original
Skywise model and
business plan were right for
the South African market
but that the airline had
failed to take to the skies
as a result of an about-turn
by one of the funders.
