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Kulula founder Gidon Novick asked the public to name the new local airline it plans to launch later in 2020, with ‘Lift’ emerging as the winner.
Novick said the name was selected from more than 25,000 creative suggestions from South Africans who participated for a chance to win a year of travel on the airline.
The next airline is a partnership between established operator Global Aviation, Novick, and former Uber executive Jonathan Ayache. A group of highly experienced industry specialists have also joined the team.
“It has been a difficult year for many and the airline industry is in a mess. We want our new airline to be a collaboration with all South Africans and a statement of optimism. This appointment process showed us once again how resilient, creative and inspiring South Africans are, ”said Novick.
“We had a lot of fun checking the tickets. Some were as thoughtful and inspiring as ‘Ubuntu Air’ and ‘FlyMzansi’. ‘Djyrynie’ and ‘Planey McPlaneface’ were never going to fly, while ‘Gravy Plane’ must have mistaken us for another airline. “
In the end, a decision was made to choose a name that was relevant to the category, unique, upbeat, and of course easy to pronounce and remember, he said.
Eight people from all over South Africa, all submitted the suggestion of the same name: Lift.
“The Lift team had open conversations with all the finalists and they all agreed to share the award. Each will receive their share of a year’s flights. Their names will also be inscribed on the body of the first plane to take off.
With a name tied securely to the team, it is now focused on its final pre-launch activities, including standby system commissioning, crew training, aircraft readiness and marketing activities. Before the first flight that will take off in December the new airline takes off ”, he said.
Novick said MyBroadband who is optimistic about the opportunity the pandemic provides to reexamine traditional business models and discover how things can be done differently.
He said the pandemic has created the possibility of affordably acquiring the key inputs to start an airline: planes, facilities and trained employees. A key focus for Novick is efficiency and cost reduction, which includes leasing aircraft at greatly reduced rates.
He added that there are high-quality maintenance facilities available that are much cheaper than a few months ago. Through experience, he found that airlines become less efficient the larger they get, so starting small gives a new airline a huge advantage.
Another Novick approach is flexibility. “With market uncertainty, a flexible model that can adjust to market demand is essential,” he said.
He said that MyBroadband technology will play a very important role in increasing efficiency. “Technology has the ability to facilitate a fluid, efficient and attractive relationship with our future customers,” said Novick.
Read: South Africa is acquiring a new airline, and the founder wants to name it
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