Comair (South Africa): Difference between revisions
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* [[Kulula.com]] |
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* [[Mango (airline)|Mango]] |
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== References == |
== References == |
Revision as of 09:26, 4 March 2014
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Founded | 1943 (as Commercial Air Services) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hubs | OR Tambo International Airport | ||||||
Focus cities | Cape Town International Airport King Shaka International Airport | ||||||
Frequent-flyer program | Executive Club | ||||||
Alliance | Oneworld (Affiliate member) | ||||||
Subsidiaries | kulula.com | ||||||
Fleet size | 17 + 4 Orders | ||||||
Destinations | 10 | ||||||
Parent company | British Airways International Airlines Group | ||||||
Headquarters | Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, South Africa | ||||||
Key people | CEO: Erik Venter | ||||||
Revenue | ZAR 5.38billion (2013) [1] | ||||||
Profit | ZAR 231million (2013)[2] | ||||||
Website | comair |
Comair Limited is an airline based in South Africa that operates scheduled services on domestic routes as a British Airways franchisee (and an affiliate member of the Oneworld airline alliance) and also as a low-cost carrier under its own kulula.com brand. Its main base is OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, with focus cities at Cape Town International Airport and King Shaka International Airport. Its headquarters are near OR Tambo in the Bonaero Park area of Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng.[3]
History
The airline was founded by World War II South African Air Force (SAAF) colleagues AC Joubert, JMS Martin, L Zimmerman and JDW Human and incorporated on 17 December 1943 as Commercial Air Services. The company began charter operations on 15 June 1946 using Fairchild F-24/UC-61K Argus Mk III aircraft.[4] Scheduled services between Rand Airport, Johannesburg and Durban began on 1 July 1948, using a Cessna Model 195.[5]
The airline grew over the next decades, to the point where it was able to start service on major domestic routes in 1992, using Boeing 737-200 aircraft. In addition to domestic flights to destinations such as Cape Town and Durban, it also offered a few international flights in Southern Africa, e.g. to Gaborone and Harare.
A franchise agreement with British Airways was signed in 1996 and in early 2000 British Airways acquired a minority holding. It was listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in July 1998. The airline is owned by the management (25%), institutions and public (52%), International Airlines Group/British Airways (18%) and employees (5%) and has 1,447 employees (at March 2007).[6]
In 2001, Comair set up kulula.com as a low-cost airline and a wholly owned brand of Comair.
On 6 September 2007, Comair extended its franchise agreement with British Airways for a further 11 years.[7]
Corporate affairs
Business trends
The key trends for the Comair group (which includes activities under both the British Airways and kulula.com brands) are shown below, as at years ending 30 June:
2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Turnover (R m) | 1,475 | 1,714 | 1,973 | 2,212 | 2,688 | 3,049 | 3,010 | 3,588 | 4,163 | 5,387 |
Profits before tax (EBT) (R m) | −136 | 99 | 116 | 157 | 103 | 114 | 124 | 106 | 11 | 231 |
Number of employees | 1,519 | 1,738 | 1,736 | 1,559 | 1,781 | 1,782 | 1,941 | 1,953 | 1,853 | 1,912 |
Number of aircraft (at year end) | 19 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 27 |
Notes/sources | [8] | [9] | [10] | [11] | [12] | [13] | [14] | [15] | [16] | [17] |
Destinations
Comair offer flights to and from the following destinations, operating under the British Airways brand[18]:
- Cape Town - Cape Town International Airport focus city
- Durban - King Shaka International Airport focus city
- Johannesburg - OR Tambo International Airport Hub
- Port Elizabeth - Port Elizabeth Airport
Codeshare agreements
Comair/British Airways has codeshare agreement with the following airlines.
Fleet
The Comair fleet includes the following aircraft in British Airways livery with an average age of 24.1 years as of 17 December 2013:[19]
Aircraft | Total | Orders | Passengers[20] | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C | Y | Total | ||||
Boeing 737-300 | 7 | — | 12 | 106 | 118 | |
Boeing 737-400 | 9 | — | 18 | 126 | 144 | |
Boeing 737-800 | 1 | 4[21] | 20 | 138 | 158 | Orders due in 2015 8 Options could be converted into 737-8 MAX [22] [23] |
Total | 17 | 4 |
Fleet orders
As part of a R3.5-billion[24] investment in fleet upgrade, Comair has ordered eight Boeing 737-800 Next-Generation to update their fleet. The airplanes are valued at approximately $646 million at current list prices and will come complete with Boeing Sky Interior.[25]
Comair took delivery of its Boeing 737-8LDs on the following days:
For Kulula
- 19 June 2012 - ZS-ZWA[26]
- 29 October 2012 - ZS-ZWB[27]
- 15 November 2012 - ZS-ZWC[28]
- 14 December 2012 - ZS-ZWD[29]
For British Airways
- 09 September 2013 - ZS-ZWI[30]
The second Boeing 737-800 is expected to arrive in the first quarter of 2014.
Imperial Air Cargo
Main article: Imperial Air Cargo
The airline started operations on 1 August 2006. Comair owns 30%.
Incidents and accidents
- On 12 October 1982, Douglas C-47A ZS-EJK was written off when it crashed into a mountain near Graskop,[31] 36 nautical miles (67 km) from Hoedspruit when attempting to divert to that airport. The weather was IMC. All 30 people on board survived.[32]
- On 1 March 1988, Comair Flight 206, an Embraer 110 Bandeirante, crashed in Johannesburg, killing all 17 occupants.[33][34]
See also
References
- ^ http://www.theafricanaviationtribune.com/2013/09/south-africa-comair-ltd-profits-soar-to.html
- ^ http://www.theafricanaviationtribune.com/2013/09/south-africa-comair-ltd-profits-soar-to.html
- ^ "Contact Us." Comair. Retrieved on 30 September 2009. "Comair Limited Physical address: Cnr Atlas Road and Marignane Drive Bonaero Park 1619 South Africa"
- ^ Van Dyke, Capt Donald L (2008). Fortune Favours the Bold: An African Aviation Odyssey. Xlibris. pp. 52, 70. ISBN 978-1-4363-9314-0.
- ^ Van Dyke, Capt Donald L (2008). Fortune Favours the Bold: An African Aviation Odyssey. Xlibris. p. 102. ISBN 978-1-4363-9314-0.
- ^ "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 2007-04-03. p. 67.
- ^ "business news Comair to stay with British Airways". business.iafrica.com. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
- ^ "Comair Limited Annual Report 2004" (PDF). 6 September 2004. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
- ^ "Comair Limited Annual Report 2005" (PDF). 5 September 2005. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
- ^ "Comair Limited Annual Report 2006" (PDF). 12 September 2006. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
- ^ "Comair Limited Annual Report 2007" (PDF). 10 September 2007. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
- ^ "Comair Limited Annual Report 2008" (PDF). 15 September 2008. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
- ^ "Comair Limited Annual Report 2009" (PDF). 14 September 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
- ^ "Comair Limited Annual Report 2010" (PDF). 13 September 2010. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
- ^ "Comair Limited Integrated Annual Report 2011" (PDF). 12 September 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
- ^ "Comair Limited Integrated Annual Report 2012" (PDF). 11 September 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
- ^ "Comair Limited Annual Report 2013" (PDF).
- ^ http://www.kulula.com/flights/routes-and-schedules/routes
- ^ http://www.planespotters.net/Airline/Comair
- ^ http://avcom.co.za/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=56880 Comair Aircraft configurations
- ^ http://www.centreforaviation.com/analysis/comair-net-profit-up-but-external-factors-make-for-a-cautious-outlook-63546
- ^ http://www.ch-aviation.ch/portal/news/20281-south-africas-comair-to-likely-convert-some-737-800-options-to-maxs#disqus_thread
- ^ http://www.comair.co.za/media-room/media-statements/british-airways-operated-by-comair-celebrates-first-of-its-new-fleet
- ^ http://www.comair.co.za/media-room/media-statements/british-airways-operated-by-comair-celebrates-first-of-its-new-fleet
- ^ http://www.aviationcentral.co.za/airlines/190
- ^ ZS-ZWA
- ^ ZS-ZWB
- ^ ZS-ZWC
- ^ ZS-ZWS
- ^ http://www.planespotters.net/Production_List/Boeing/737/30403,ZS-ZWI-Comair.php
- ^ "C/N 19484". The Dakota Association of South Africa. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
- ^ "ZS-EJK Accident report". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
- ^ "Accident Synopsis » 03011988," Airdisaster.com
- ^ Comair Flight 206 accident
Further reading
- Van Dyke, Capt Donald L. 'Fortune Favours the Bold: An African Aviation Odyssey. Philadelphia: Xlibris, 2008. ISBN 978-1-4363-9314-0.
External links
- Media related to Comair Limited at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website
- Fortune Favours the Bold: History of Comair (South Africa) ISBN 978-1-4363-9314-0