Budget carrier, LIFT Airline, will suspend scheduled flights on its coastal route for a month.
LIFT AIRLINE
South Africa’s budget carrier with a difference, LIFT Airline, will not operate scheduled flights on its coastal route for a month during the coming winter.
The low-cost carrier provides services on South Africa’s “Golden Triangle”, operating flights between Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.
LIFT AIRLINE SUSPENDS FLIGHTS ON COASTAL ROUTE
The airline has suspended flights on the route between Cape Town and Durban from 7 May to 12 June.
A spokesperson from the airline told Travelnews that the suspension is temporary.
“Over the winter period, we have taken the decision to revise our schedule and temporarily pause our route between Cape Town and Durban, between May 7 and June 12. We are in the process of notifying all passengers and have re-accommodated everyone on the closest alternative flights. Our team is focused on minimising the impact to travellers for this period and will assist passengers with any required changes,” said a spokesperson for the airline in a statement shared with Travel News.
ROUTE SUSPENSION
The cause of the suspension of services for a month is not yet clear. Whether this is related to passenger demand levels, aircraft shortages or technical issues remains unknown.
When launching the airline in 2020, Lift CEO Jonathan Ayache mentioned that LIFT’s business model enabled the company to tailor operations around demand.
“We’re very lucky that LIFT’s agile, demand-driven business model allows us to scale up and down as things change. And change, they certainly do,” Ayache said.
RESUMING COASTAL ROUTE
The airline will continue to service the coastal route, with flights recommencing on 13 June.
“We’ll still operate our full daily schedule between Durban and Joburg, and Joburg and Cape Town during this period. Flights between Cape Town and Durban are scheduled to resume on June 13. We look forward to flying this route again soon,” LIFT said.
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LIFT AIRLINE
LIFT started operations in December 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when there was a shortage of seats in the SA aviation landscape.
The airline is known for doing things differently. Though it is classified as a low-cost carrier, LIFT is unique.
As well as offering full flexibility on its budget airline tickets, the airline provides all passengers with complimentary inflight snacks and drinks.
It often surprises passengers with inflight entertainment including book launches, silent discos, fashion shows and performances by local artists.
Furthermore, the airline also allows passengers to bring pets on its flights.
Pets may be carried in the passenger section of the aircraft. However, this is subject to the size of the animal.
