Plans are afoot for another regional airline to take to the African skies. 
While those behind the operation are keeping a low profile and not divulging any details, Tourism Update has discovered that a regional carrier similar to fastjet, called FlyAfrica, is being developed. 
Based on information from social networking site LinkedIn, the CEO of the airline is Godfrey Banga, who, it appears, has no prior experience in the aviation field. He states on his profile that he is “in the process of setting up a passenger and cargo airline to operate domestic, regional and international routes”. According to LinkedIn, Adrian Hamilton-Manns is Project Leader of the new airline. Adrian has a wealth of experience in aviation, including previously holding the position of SAA’s executive vp of commercial.
The website, www.flyafrica.com, features the slogan: “Africa’s Low Fare Airline” and says “The Revolution is Coming!” with a countdown clock: 2 months, 22 days, 18 hours… But apart from various social media accounts and the website there is little more than speculation as to when and if the airline will launch. The airline refused to comment when contacted by Tourism Update.
On an aviation forum, a person claiming to represent the airline stated towards the end of last year that the airline was keeping a low profile except for its presence on LinkedIn, from where it attracted some of its staff. A later post reads: “The reason for silence is many new airlines in Africa promise a lot and then don’t show up or make claims they can’t deliver on… Until we have done everything, received every government clearance required and our planes are sitting on the flightline painted, we are keeping quiet.”
A reliable source told Tourism Update that, although the airline was backed by South African investors, it would be based in Zimbabwe and had ties to Fresh Air – the start-up airline linked to 1time just weeks before 1time was grounded, but never got off the ground. FlyAfrica’s Country Manager for Zimbabwe is Matipedza Karase, who previously held the position of coo at Fresh Air and is related to the CEO of Fresh Air, Chakanyuka Karase. 
Both Aasa and Barsa have heard about FlyAfrica, but the airline has yet to approach the associations. Chris Zweigenthal, Chief Executive of Aasa says he has been aware of FlyAfrica’s intentions to start up for more than a year but no progress has been reported. 
Zweigenthal says: “The hurdle they will need to get over is to satisfy respective countries’ regulations on ownership and control if they want to operate domestic services. And if they wish to operate regional or international services, they would need to be designated by the respective states whose route rights they wish to utilise.”
The South African Department of Transport has also confirmed that it is aware of the airline but has not received any applications from FlyAfrica.