Airtime Airlines flightsA new tailfin may soon be seen in South Africa's skies. Airtime airlines is a new full service carrier planning to operate flights between Durban and Johannesburg (its base is in Durban, thus becoming the first major South African airline based completely outside of Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport). Its slogan is "Durban's Connexion". It plans to fly between:
Durban and Johannesburg (3 return flights a day)
Durban and Cape Town (3 return flights a day)
Durban and Port Elizabeth (3 return flights a day)
We are concerned that Airtime Airlines had a false start. We'd like to see their planes actually in the sky before we start booking.
This was the revised schedule they intended flying to:
Flight |
Departs |
Arrives |
Frequency |
Effective period |
909 |
0735 |
0850 |
Daily, excl. Sat. |
30 Jan 2009 - 22 Mar 2009 |
925 |
1140 |
1250 |
Daily, excl. Sat. |
30 Jan 2009 - 22 Mar 2009 |
949 |
1735 |
1850 |
Daily, excl. Sat. |
30 Jan 2009 - 22 Mar 2009 |
Flight |
Departs |
Arrives |
Frequency |
Effective period |
916 |
0950 |
1100 |
Daily, excl. Sat. |
30 Jan 2009 - 22 Mar 2009 |
944 |
1535 |
1650 |
Daily, excl. Sat. |
30 Jan 2009 - 22 Mar 2009 |
958 |
1935 |
2050 |
Daily, excl. Sat. |
30 Jan 2009 - 22 Mar 2009 |
From the 4th January 2009 tickets have been sold at:
online bookings |
SMS bookings |
telephonic bookings |
|
37293 |
086 100 2FLY |
Flight route |
Airtime required |
Durban - Johannesburg |
75m one-way |
85m one-way |
|
Durban - Cape Town |
125m one-way |
* It seems that there's an extra R1.00 charged in sending an SMS to purchase the airtime
You need to book your flight within the Airtime Window (was 1 month when we last checked).
SMS TOPUP <minutes> to 32FLY (SMS costs R1.00, free minutes do not apply).
Pay your money within 24 hours of your SMS to top-up into Airtime Airlines' bank account, using your 10 digit cellphone number as your reference:
FNB account number 62207804627, Branch code 223726
Phone 0861-002FLY between 8am and 8pm to book.
20kg free.
Whilst the airline is marketing itself as low cost, it is adding a few frills:
a free snack &
a free drink (hot or cold)
free local newspaper
free bag-wrap for one piece of checked-in luggage
free airtime (prepaid top-up)
Airtime Airlines is leasing 3 118-seater Boeing 737-200s from AirQuarius Aviation. The plan is to later change to an Embraer fleet (which is more fuel-efficient). It is rumoured that provisional orders have been placed for Embraer 175 and 190.
Its loyalty program, iFLY Airtime, is planned to be launched in 2009. Members will earn airtime for each flight (which can be redeemed for cellphones or flights). There are 2 tiers of membership, with different sets of benefits.
Koomaresen Eargambram (also known as Vino) is Chief Executive Officer of Blackbird Aerospace Corporation, as well as being responsible for commercial operations of Airtime Airlines.
Airtime took over much of the office space and airport counters previously used by Nationwide Airlines.
A whois on www.flyairtime.co.za indicates that the domain is owned by Blackbird Aerospace Corporation (Pty) Ltd, with a postal adress at Blackbird Aviation Centre, 2A Jan Smuts. The billing address is to Interprise (Pty) Ltd, with email uniforum@interprise.co.za, postal adress "PO Box 1161, Rivonia, 2128" and phone number 011 560 9000.
Blackbird Aerospace Corporation and AirQuarius Aviation have a commercial agreement whereby Blackbird Aerospace (for Airtime Airways) is allowed to use AirQuarius Aviation's license from the Air Licensing Council of South Africa (ALC) and Air Operating Certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Similarly to the arrangement between Comair and Kulula, whereby Kulula operates aircraft under Comair's licence; Airtime Airlines is simply the trading name.
AirQuarius Aviation is a Lanseria-based aviation company. The Chief Executive of AirQuarius Aviation is CGavin Branson.
It seems that Airtime Airlines are not planning on applying for membership of IATA (other low-cost carriers like Ryanair and easyJet are also not members).
It is not clear who owns Blackbird Aerospace Corporation, but it is likely to be at least partically-owned by Koomaresen Eargambram, and speculation is that a player in the cellphone industry is involved (speculated to be Durban based iTalk cellular).
Postal Address |
Registered Address |
P O BOX 57705 |
SUITE 01 |
2 Mar 2009 |
1time wins a court case preventing Airtime from using the word "time" in its name, the colour red for its marketing or the "ifly Airtime" logo. Desmond O'Conner, 1time's Commercial Manager says "We just want to distance ourselves from them as much as we can and get people to be fully aware that 1time is in no way connected with Airtime whatsoever". |
30 Jan 2009 |
Commercial flights were scheduled to begin between Durban and Johannesburg (3 daily). |
28 Jan 2009 |
South Africa's Department of Transport's Air Services Licensing Council says that Airtime Airlines does not hold a domestic licence, and has "called upon Airtime Airlines to follow the legislative requirements before engaging in any air operations, including the sale of air tickets". |
25 Jan 2009 |
Commercial flights were originally scheduled to begin between Durban and Johannesburg (3 daily)...but date later changed to the 30th Jan 2009. |
21 Jan 2009 |
The Department of Transport's Air Services Council accepts Airquarius's application to operate a scheduled air service in South Africa. |
5 Jan 2009 |
Tickets start being sold for Airtime Airlines flights - see Airtime's opening prices |
10 Jan 2008 |
Airtime Airlines website is up and running for the first time, offering a Durban to Johannesburg return ticket and a R25 airtime voucher for R795. Here's a screenshot of the Airtime Airlines website. The website was designed by Dragan Grafix. |
15 Dec 2008 |
Airtime Airlines plans to give South Africa's CAA and Air Licensing Council of South Africa the mandatory 14 days notice that it will be operating flights under AirQuarius Aviation's licence. |
10 Dec 2008 |
The Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) says that it has not been formally approached by Airtime Airlines for landing and takeoff slots. South Africa's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)says that it has not yet granted Airtime Airlines an operators certificate (although it later became apparent that Airtime would make use of AirQuarius Aviation's licence). |
9 Dec 2008 |
Airtime Airlines starts sponsoring the East Coast Radio's Top 100, and their logo is displayed for the first time on the East Coast Radio website. |
6 Dec 2008 |
the Independent Online group tells the world about Airtime Airlines in a news story. |
15 Mar 2008 |
The Times writes a story about Koomaresen Eargambram, South Africa's first black pilot who's dream is to open a domestic airline. |
Aug 2007 |
Blackbird Aerospace Corporation comes close to purchasing the remains of Nationwide Airlines, before the deal collapsed over a dispute regarding unused tickets (Blackbird would not agree with John Cameron's - former Nationwide CEO Vernon Bricknell's attorney - demand that R71m in unused tickets should be underwritten by Blackbird). |
Sep 2007 |
Koomaresen Eargambram resigns from SAA to take up a position as chief executive of Blackbird Aerospace Corporation (the initial plan was to expand Blackbird Aerospace Corporation into flight training for pilots and cabin crew by buying out the Natal Flight Academy (the oldest flying school in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa). |
1988 |
Koomaresen Eargambram becomes the first black pilot in the South African Air Force. |
Name |
Comment |
|---|---|
melanie beukes | enquiring about cabin crew vacancies with airtime. i am a licensed crew member with south african airways. would relocate to durban. kind regards |
sinalo | hi im sinalo 20 year old woman it is with my enthusiast 2 be part of airtime team iam currently working for mango airline at cape town |
Precious | Hi i am currently studying towards a National Diploma in Tourism Management. I am interested in working for your company please advice where i can send my application. Thank you in advance. |
PALESA | I AM A 21 YEAR OLD CO-WAITRESS WITH A MATRIC CERTIFICATE AND A MICROSOFT OFFICE ADVANCED CERTIFICATE. I'D LOVE TO WORK AS A CABIN CREW MEMBER AT AIRTIME AIRLINES. 0828513763 |
Onershree | I have completed a Diploma in Retail Travel. I have also done a reservations and ticketing course. I would like to for the an airline. Could I be told where to apply and how. |
Melissa | Hi i was wondering, ive seen your offices at durban airport and would like to know if your recruiting cabin crew anytime soon,im very interested in flying domestically and would like to email my cv to the airline.you can contact me at 0781696446,0782857180. |
Thobile Lande | Please provide me with infor as I would like to be one of your employees, do have experience as I was once a tranee cabin crew at the South African Airways my contact details 0766358647 |
Siphelele | I am currently a student at the University of Johannesburg and I obtain a National Diploma in Tourism Management and would like a career in Airlines. If possible may Youy please contact me azt this number and I'll e-mail my CV. 0735067884 |
Cheryl | When will the flights be available from Durban to East London return. |
masooda | qualified cabin cre would like to be employed by your company |
seelan | can you please quote prices from dbn to jhb for 3 passengers. 27 March 09 returning 29 March 09. |
mark | please start george flights just a daily service |
Cindy Govender | hi there, I just heard about the new airline i think its great and very different from the rest, i wanted to know were can i send my CV to...i have studyed Travel and have 1 year Exp as an Travel Agent please could you advise me as it is my dream to be a Flight Attendant. Thanking you advance Warm Regards, Cindy Govender |
mashooda | hi! just read about this new airline and would like to wish u all the best.would also like to offer you inflight kiddies party packs.please contact me on 0731786544 for more details...mash |
Bongiwe Mbatha | welcome on board i would like to know where can i submit my cv.im staying in Durban close to the airport.im willing to do voluntary work as part of my inservice training since i just finished from Sky Avation College. |
Thembi Hlongwane | Would love to be part of this dynamic team, I'm impressed. The offers are great. It will be my pleasure to be part of this team, please should vacancies become available I will be interested do contact me on the e-mail address provided. Good luck! |
leigh | hi there,i am interested in joining this dynamic team. i have been working for a airline +-4 years as ground staff,kindly forward details on how to apply for positions. thanks and i look forward to hearing from you. |
Tsotetsi Simon | i am interested to join you as i was working for nationwide airline as customer service agent and im currenlty working for airzimbabwe as airline representative.is your time airtime airline go for it and show them why not 2010 is yours. |
Happy | Hi'there am also impressed about the new airline (Airtime airline),I would like to get the job as I am working as the graund staff opperation in mango airline:- Duties as follow checkin,ticket sales & ramping,that the expirence that i have at the moment |
ce guy | wonder if they going to take off.14th of jan alredy.was in durbs today saw nothing around there.happy flying. |
brian | there web site is then even running so how do we know if it's really happening!!! (www.flyairtime.co.za) was there just now. so we can find out more. |
sweetness | i read about this new airline and i am impressed also would like to know how do you go about recritment because i would like to be part of this dynamic team |
Rachel | Hi there, i would like to get a job in AIRTIME AIRLINES i have experience in baggage,check in as well as ticket sales and call centre. thanks |
Nomusa | Hi there,i just wanna find out when should i regard my job application as unsuccesful please email me nomusamphml@gmail.com |
preleston | why is the site so complicated. |
gabisile | i would like to fisrt congradulate vino on making it through after the rough two years of planning and starting an airline co. off the ground.as a s.a citizen im proud of you.i have enough experience to service this airline .kindly foward the details on how to apply for any position.thanks |
siyabonga | I would like more clarity on this Airtime munites, Flight ticket & Flight relationship, I'm still confused. |
Nelly | Here are my correct details... |
Nelly | Welcome on board... I'm very much interested in joining the crew. if you can forward all the neccesary information to post my C.v. Good luck... |
Selena Reddy | hey uncle vino, congradz on the new airline. hope everything goes well! we are all so happy and proud of you... |
ZAHEEDA | I WOULD LIKE TO GET A JOB IN AIRTIME AIRLINES EVEN IF IT'S AT THE CHECK INN COUNTER. THANKS |
Mark | Plz do george flights saa is so expensive |
ossy | i hope url can better mango`s opening special of R1 flights to cape town and make it perhaps 5b0b LOL ,good marketing strategy 4 ur new airline,goodluck,. |
Nomusa | Hi.i am a 21year old zululady living in durban.i have a tourism management diploma and a galileo certificate.i am seeking employment.please email me if there are any vacancies especially groundstaff.NOMUSAMPHML@gmail.com or contact..0734512973 |
Mohammed Huck | Hi. Please forward me contact details for cabin crew recruitment. I have previously operated as crew for Nationwide. Congrats and here's to Airtime brightening our skyline :) |
nirvani | I would like an email address to send my cv thro for a job.I am currently working for a travel agency.Any assistance will be greatly appreciated.Kind regards. |
Charmaine Reddy | Yayyy...another player in the airline industry. Wishing Blackbird Aerospace Corporation, Airtime Airlines and Vino all the very best in this new venture. |
taZzY | Hi. I am a Media and Communications graduate and want to apply for a post at airtime airlines. Can i have an email adres to email my cv to? |
cilla Furness | Roll on 4th January 2009 so we can book some flights. |
Anna de Marigny | I am so pleased that a good low cost airline is operating out of Durban. It leaves us another option for our travel plans. |
