LIFT (airline)
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| Founded | 2020 (As LIFT Airline) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commenced operations | December 2020 | ||||||
| Hubs | OR Tambo International Airport | ||||||
| Focus cities | |||||||
| Fleet size | 3 | ||||||
| Destinations | 2 | ||||||
| Headquarters | Johannesburg, South Africa | ||||||
| Key people | Gidon Novick (CEO) Jonathan Ayache | ||||||
| Website | www | ||||||
LIFT Airline is a start-up South African low-cost airline which launched on December 10, 2020 at the start of the South African summer holiday season. It operates on major domestic routes from O. R. Tambo International Airport to Cape Town International Airport and George Airport on the Garden Route and then later King Shaka International Airport. The name, LIFT Airline, was selected after the public were invited to name the airline in a social media campaign.[1][2][3] Over 25,000 names were received with LIFT Airline being submitted by eight contestants all of whom agreed to share the main prize of free flights for a year.[4] Their names are inscribed on the body of the first aircraft that took to the air. The airline's new name was revealed on October 29, 2020 and was selected as it reflects optimism.[5][6] Cabin crew wear clothing supplied by South African online retailer Superbalist while coffee and snacks are provided by Vida e Caffe.[7]
History
LIFT was established in October 2020 and commenced operations on December 10, 2020. The stated aim is to position LIFT as a flexible air carrier that will operate in a similar fashion to Uber taxis with flight schedules being determined by popularity and demand.[8]
Corporate affairs
Ownership
LIFT is a joint venture between former Kulula.com CEO Gidon Novick, former Uber CEO Jonathan Ayache, and local aircraft leasing company Global Airways,[9] a South African-based ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) specialist operating a mixed fleet of Airbus A320 & A340 aircraft.
Destinations
As of January 2021, LIFT serves the following destinations.[10]
| Province | City | Airport | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Cape | Cape Town | Cape Town International Airport | |
| Western Cape | George | George Airport | Seasonal |
| Gauteng | Johannesburg | OR Tambo International Airport | Hub |
Fleet
As of December 2020, the LIFT fleet consists of three Airbus A320-200 aircraft.[11]
| Aircraft | In Fleet | Orders | Passengers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-200 | 3 | 0 | 180 | |
| Total | 3 | 0 |
See also
- Airlink, a South African regional airline.
- CemAir, a South African regional airline.
- FlySafair, a South African low-cost airline.
- kulula.com, a South African low-cost airline.
- Mango, a South African low-cost airline.
Notes
References
- ^ "Brand New Airline".
- ^ "You Can Name South Africa's Newest Airline".
- ^ "New SA Airline to be named by public here's your chance to be famous".
- ^ "SA's 'new airline' now has a name – beating these comical suggestions".
- ^ "SA's Newest Airline Finally Has a Name".
- ^ "Lift - About Us".
- ^ "SA's newest airline takes to the skies, with snacks from Vida and crew outfits by Superbalist".
- ^ "SA's 'new airline' now has a name – beating these comical suggestions".
- ^ "Lift Beats 25,000 Suggestions As Name Of New South African Airline".
- ^ https://mybroadband.co.za/news/motoring/374706-flight-prices-compared-kulula-vs-flysafair-vs-lift.html
- ^ "Global Airlines Fleet".
