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Johannesburg - Low-cost carrier 1time [JSE:1TM] has added Maputo to its route network to take it to most of the significant markets in southern Africa. The airline resumed the Johannesburg to Livingstone route in November.
"We are hoping to launch the Maputo route by March," 1time commercial director Desmond O'Connor told Fin24.com on Friday. He said the airline secured five flights a week between Johannesburg and Maputo, adding about 600 seats and competing directly with Mozambique's KLM national carrier.
The additional route cements the AltX-listed 1time's position as a regional airline.
"We're still looking for anything within four hours' flying time from Johannesburg," said O'Connor. Those would include East Africa, where 1time seeks to add to its Zanzibar operations.
Keeping it corporate
Currently in a closed period and due to report financial results for the year ended December, 1time is mainly looking at taking up those routes with more corporate travel rather than leisure spots such as Mauritius.
"We believe there are better returns on those routes. If you look at our domestic routes you'll notice we are mainly on corporate routes as opposed to the leisure ones," said O'Connor.
He said 1time is "keen" to go to Harare. "Should anything become available [landing slots open], we'll consider it".
O'Connor said 1time is attempting to close flight price gaps.
"If you look at the price differential between Johannesburg and Cape Town and that of Livingstone, you'll notice it has been ridiculous in the past," said O'Connor. Livingstone is closer to Johannesburg, but it's more expensive to fly there.
While the Maputo route is largely uncontested, 1time will face stiff competition on the Livingstone route from fellow low-cost operator, Comair-operated kulula.com and state-owned South African Airways.
1time's regional ambitions were dealt a blow last year, however, when its long negotiations with aviation authorities in Angola fell through after Angola granted more landing rights to SAA in Luanda.
Only the respective countries' state-owned airlines currently fly that route, which is benefiting from the African Cup of Nations tournament under way in Angola.
- Fin24.com
