CIVAIR is to launch Redair, a low-cost airline, after having received the rights to operate five weekly frequencies from Cape Town or Durban to London Stansted, as well as three weekly frequencies to Spain (Madrid, Malaga or Barcelona).

Civair owner, Andy Cluver, said the airline was not ready to fly just yet and was still looking for “the right aircraft at the right price, preferably B767-300 ERs, B777-200 ERs or B747-400s”. Civair last year told SA’s International Air Service Licensing Council it had secured three B747s from Skytech AIC leasing company, but Cluver said these had meanwhile been sold to a Chinese airline. He said the company had raised R40m in capital from local investors and the Industrial Development Corporation of SA (IDC) and was looking for additional Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) investors. The company’s first attempt at entering the international market misfired in 2004 when a BEE financier backed out at the last minute. Thousands of passengers were left stranded but were partially refunded. Cluver said Redair would offer an economy and a cheaper business class. Fares would start from R1 999 excluding taxes, but the cheaper fares would be limited and depend on supply and demand. Using the airline’s website, flyredair.com (not open yet), passengers would pre-order and pay for their meals, entertainment and access to a business-class lounge. If bought on board without pre-ordering, these extras would cost more because this meant additional cartage for the airline. Cluver said tickets would be sold online only. Travel agents would be welcome to sell tickets from the airline’s website but would receive the same price as consumers, unless they were making bulk bookings. Cluver said Civair had also applied for three return flights per week between Johannesburg/Cape Town/ Durban and Buenos Aires; and
three return flights per week between Johannesburg/Cape Town/ Durban and Baiyun Airport (Guangzhou, China), but these had not been granted.