Expect 50% cheaper fares on the Johannesburg-Maputo route when 1time Airlines starts operating there from August 12.

Currently, the lowest return airfare is over R2 600 including taxes on legacy carriers  operating the route. The 1time return airfare (including taxes) will start from R1 289, says commercial manager, Desmond O’Connor. “We expect the trend of traffic on this route to follow the trends of certain domestic routes such as Johannesburg-East London and Johannesburg-Port Elizabeth, when the low-cost carriers entered those markets. Due to the drop in fares, more people flew, and more frequently.” A one-way flight ex-Johannesburg, says O’Connor will be priced from R672, while the one-way from Maputo will cost R617, including all taxes and levies associated with the relevant airports. “I believe the fares we are now able to offer will see the greatest reduction of airfares that any regional African route has ever seen and we really expect this route to grow nicely in the months to come.”   1time will operate five flights a week using a 130-seater jet aircraft, operating every day except Tuesdays and Saturdays. The flights will operate mid-afternoon to early evening to cater for both leisure and corporate traffic. “Ideally we would have liked to operate two flights a day but have been limited to the current five flights in terms of bilateral agreements,” concludes O’Connor.