Although a pandemic marks a strange time to start a new airline, a new carrier plans domestic service later this year. But this new airline has no name yet and has turned to the South African public for help. One winner will receive free travel for a year.
Help Name A New South African Airline
The new airline is a joint effort between Gidon Novick, founder of Kulula, and Global Aviation, an aircraft leasing company based in South Africa. Global Aviation has never offered scheduled commercial service. Meanwhile, Kulula is a budget carrier and wholly-owned subsidiary of Comair, which operates domestic and international shorthaul service as a franchisee of British Airways. The new airline plans service between Johannesburg and CapeTown in December 2020 to start.
Novick has “drawn inspiration from Uber’s high tech, customer-obsessed approach to mobility” and sees technology as a key component to selling tickets.
“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.”
The Contest
On a website titled “Brand New Airline” you can suggest your preferred name:
“Help to find a name that is unique, aspirational, and cool – if selected, you could be the lucky winner of a year’s free travel on the airline valued at R480,000.”
That’s about USD28,000.
However, read the terms and conditions and you’ll see that the winner (plus one guest) will be limited to 12 return flight per year at a cap of R2000 per ticket. No matter how you slice it, I’m not sure how you can up to R480,000 unless there is a missing zero somewhere.
The contest runs through October 2, 2020 and a winner will be announced on October 9, 2020. It is open to legal residents of South Africa over the age of 18.
CONCLUSION
Since the contest is not open to me, I might as well state my entry here. While Madiba Air was the thought that first crossed my mind, associating Nelson Mandela and a term which literally means an older man with a brand new low-cost carrier is probably a very bad idea.
So how about South African Soul or Cape Airways?
Robert Mugabe Airways?
Maybe a better option for Southern Rhodesia…
Mr. Mugabe was a revolutionary hero within the greater anti-colonialist African nationalist movement.
How about Covid-Air, no wait that sounds really bad out loud. “come fly on Covid-Air” isn’t a very good motto. I don’t think Cape Airways is good as Cape Air is already taken. Maybe something more along the line of Diamond Air
NATIONAL CORRUPTION AIRLINE
We Fly
Lets Fly
The Cape is only one part of South Africa, so unless it’s going to be based in the Western Cape with its principal hub at Cape Town, this doesn’t really make sense. If it’s intended to be a national airline, then “Cape Air” actually reads as very regional.
What about the gentleman who shows up in the comments always bragging about how he is the CEO of many African airlines? We should ask him.
GNU South African Airways
(pronounced /nuː/ NOO)
Gnu AKA wildebeest
The Gnu is one of the most abundant of the big game species across the southern African contient.
SA’s 5-rand coin has an image of a prancing black wildebeest and it has been featured on postage stamps.
FWIW SA Rand notes feature the Big-5 game animals.
Since Safaris are a huge part locus of international tourist, it would be perfect advertising like Alaska’s wildlife livery.
We Fly
Lets Fly
I suggested PAGEAUNA Airways. I heard that once the world was connected and called PAGEAUNA, the oceans forced the separation of the Continents to be formed. But Since the Corona virus Pandemic has coused disruption aviation however we can not deny the fact that this virus has forced PAGEAUNA to connect once again. So I think in the future this name will also remind us the dark times that connected the world together.
The call sign could be PGA, slogan could be ” Africa made smaller” or ” Step to the Universe”.
I Also agree with Cape Airways. Large land of South Africa is the 3 cape provinces, The Eastern Cape, Western Cape, and Northern Cape. And most legendary people who were in the for front for bringing freedom in the country are mostly from the Eastern Cape, Home of Legends. So I agree with Cape Airways.
I wish the headquarters could be in Cape Town because it’s one of the fast growing cities in South Africa and more attractive to travelers worldwide.
But my suggestion is a new name that unfamiliar with the market.
” PAGEAUNA Airways /Airlines” PGA ( Stepping into the universe.
Ugh, wish I saw this earlier. Amandla Airways, hands down.