a relentless quest to expose the
cheapest flights
in, to and from South Africa
a relentless quest to expose the
cheapest flights
in, to and from South Africa
Comair Limited is the owner of Kulula Airlines and has a licence to fly the British Airways brand in South Africa.
In its financials to June 2007, Comair highlighted government subsidised travel and the oil price as being the major risk factors the airline industry was facing in South Africa; with secondary concerns being airport congestion and rapidly escalating airport charges.
Comair Kulula, together with ACSA, allows members of the South African Police Service and their family to fly at discounted rates. |
Trying to introduce daylight savings time in South Africa. |
Comair British Airways provides flights to to Johannesburg and Cape Town, for lecturers of CIDA City Campus (South Africa's first free university). |
Anti the state subsidising government-owned airlines (Mango and SAA): "It is our view that the Government should review the
effective compliance of its own policy, as documented in a
White Paper, which commits it to a reduction in its direct
involvement in the provision of air services, the principle of |
Raise money and awareness for CHOC (Childrens Haematology Oncology Clinics). |
In July 2006 a transaction was concluded, whereby 15% of Comair's shares were taken up by an empowerment consortium known as the Thelo Aviation Consortium (Pty) Ltd, which is led by Thelo Aviation Investments (Pty) Ltd. Thelo Aviation Investment (Pty) purchased an additional 1.1% of Comair's shares in cash bringing the total empowerment holding to 16.1%.
On the 30th June 2007, 53% of Comair's staff were black employees, up from 29% on the 30th June 2002, whilst 79% of employees were from designated groups (i.e. blacks, the disabled and females). "We continue to focus our recruitment and training efforts on achieving a demographically representative team", Comair stated in their annual financials.
On 1 August 2007 Imperial Air Cargo was formed as a joint venture between Safair (70% owner) and Comair (30% owner), operating domestic cargo flights in South Africa. Imperial Air Cargo operates services to Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth. The Chief Operating Officer of Imperial Air Cargo is Muriel Sahd (+27-72 080 1019).
Comair Limited listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in 1998, and is a South African controlled company. The following shareholders hold more than 3% of the issued share capital of the company:
|
Percentage ownership (30/6/2008) |
Directors |
20% |
BB Investment Company |
25% |
Britair Holdings Limited |
13% |
Comair Share Incentive Trust |
5% |
Alan Gray Equity Fund |
5% |
Oasis Crescent Equity Fund |
5% |
Oakbay |
5% |
Other public shareholders |
22% |
Total |
100% |
Shareholders in South Africa owned 85% of the issued share capital on 30 June 2008.
Position |
Name |
Nationality |
Remuneration |
% shares |
Chairman |
Donald Novick |
South African |
R 100,000 |
12.75% |
Deputy Chairman from 11 Feb 2008 |
Ronald Sibongiseni Ntuli |
South African |
R 100,000 |
1.47% |
Deputy Chairman ? |
Martin Darryl Moritz |
South African |
R 100,000 |
12.75% |
Joint CEO |
Gidon Saul Novick |
South African |
R 4,948,000 |
0.07% |
Joint CEO |
Erik Rudolf Venter |
South African |
R 5,771,000 |
0.00% |
Director |
Pieter van Hoven ¹ |
South African |
R 1,483,,000 |
0.05% |
Director |
Alan Kerr Buchanan |
British |
- |
- |
Director: Special Projects |
Bertrandus Johannes van der Linden |
Netherlands |
R 1,801,000 |
- |
Director: Flight Operations |
Martin Nicolaas Louw |
South African |
R 5,691,000 |
0.00% |
Independent non-executive director |
Peter Johannes Welgemoed |
South African |
R 130,000 |
0.02% |
Independent non-executive director |
Rodney Cyril Sacks |
South African |
R 100,000 |
- |
Independent non-executive director |
Khutso Ignatius Mampeule |
South Africa |
R 100,000 |
0.00% |
Independent non-executive director |
Jacob Meyer Kahn |
South African |
R 120,000 |
- |
Company Secretary & Alternate Director to Bertrandus |
Derek Henry Borer |
South African |
R 2,238,000 |
0.04% |
¹ After 41 years at Comair (which included 27 years as MD), Piet van Hoven retired from Comair in June 2006, but continued serving as a director on the board.
Selling airline tickets on Kulula.com and British Airways flights.
Kulula.com has a VISA credit card which it launched together with First National Bank.
Comair has two Boeing 737 flight simulators at its training facilities at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport. At these facilities Comair trains their own pilots, as well as the pilots of several international airlines.
Gidon Novick, joint CE of Comair explains how realistic Comair's flight simulators are: "I took my 5-year-old son into the flight simulator and flew him around Table Mountain. It’s so realistic, he didn’t understand we didn’t really take off. He later asked my wife: ‘Mommy, how did we get through the wall’?"
In a joint venture with Discovery Health, Comair offers Discovery's vitality members discounts of between 15% and 30% off Kulula airline flights. Comair plans to extend this concept to car rental.
Oct 2009 |
Comair appoints Yasas Sri-Chandana as finance director. Sri-Chandana joined the company in February 2009. |
9 Oct 2009 |
Comair's joint-CEO, Gidon Novick, announces its interest in purchasing Durban International Airport, together with an unnamed partner. ACSA is building a new airport at La Mercy and wants to dispose of Durban International Airport. |
15 Sep 2009 |
Mr. R Yasas Sri Chandana is appointed to Comair's Board as the Financial Director. |
18 Dec 2008 |
Comair announce the purchase of res24seven (online accommodation reservations) and MT Beds (online travel platform), thereby extending the Kulula travel business. |
11 Feb 2008 |
In its interim unaudited results, Comair accuses its "state-owned competitors" (Mango and SAA, South African Airways) of "continued unprofitable pricing" (SouthAfrica.TO evidence demonstrates that it is in fact Nationwide Airline which has been at the forefront of low pricing over the last year). |
11 Feb 2008 |
Mr Lloyd Cromwell Griffiths, a British citizen, retires from the board of Comair. Mr Ronald Sibongiseni Ntuli is appointed deputy Chairman of the board of directors. |
Jul 2007 |
Comair appoints South African Airways Technical to maintain its fleet of Boeing aircraft. |
20 Jan 2007 |
Kulula.com launches flights from Johannesburg to Mauritius. |
1 Aug 2006 |
Imperial Air Cargo is formed as a joint venture between Comair (30%) and Safair (70%). |
25 Jul 2006 |
Comair announced an empowerment deal whereby the Thelo empowerment consortium attains 16.1% of Comair's shares. |
Jun 2006 |
Piet van Hoven retires from Comair, after working for 41 years at Comair (including 27 years as Managing Director). Van Hoven continued serving as a director on the board. |
Mar 2006 |
The first Kulula flight from Lanseria as Kulula launches flights from Lanseria to Cape Town. |
Jun 2005 |
Comair's British Airways franchise purchases 3 Boeing 737-300s. |
27 May 2005 |
Kulula airline starts operating flights to the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (Nelspruit). |
1 Feb 2005 |
Kulula airline introduces flights from Johannesburg to East London and flights from Cape Town to George. |
Jan 2005 |
Kulula airline receives 2 more MD85 aircraft. |
1 Nov 2004 |
Kulula airline launches flights from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth and flights from Durban to Port Elizabeth. |
2 Jun 2004 |
In order to allow Kulula.com aircraft to be serviced, a Boeing 737-200 arrives as a filler (Kulula's 5th plane). |
8 Mar 2004 |
Computicket starts selling Kulula.com flights. |
28 Mar 2004 |
Comair's British Airways franchise starts operating flights from Livingstone to Johannesburg (and the other way round). |
2 Feb 2004 |
Comair's British Airways franchise enters into a codeshare with Iberia Airways to supply domestic flights within South Africa. |
29 Jan 2004 |
Kulula.com launches Kulula beds, a JV with Protea hotels. |
2003/2004 |
From December 2003 to March 2004, Kulula.com replaces its entire fleet with MD82s (one per month). |
2003 |
With financial assistance from Investec, Kulula.com purchases 3 Boeing 737-300s from Qantas Airways. |
22 Aug 2003 |
Kulula introduces flights from Johannesburg to George (and back) |
31 Jul 2003 |
Kulula lists on Galileo (a travel agent flight booking system). |
Jul 2003 |
Kulula airline enters into a JV with Khaya car hire to manage its fleet. |
21 May 2003 |
For the first time in its history, Comair's British Airways franchise flies an all-female crew from Johannesburg to Lusaka and back. |
22 Apr 2003 |
Kulula introduces flights from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth and flights from Cape Town to Durban. |
21 Oct 2002 |
Comair's British Airways franchise enters into a codeshare with KLM. |
19 Aug 2002 |
Kulula.com launches a joint venture with Imperial car rental (Kulula cars). |
1 Aug 2001 |
A pivotal moment in the South African aviation industry; when the first of South Africa's low-cost carriers, Kulula.com (owned by Comair Limited), was launched with 3 daily return flights from Johannesburg to Cape Town. Later in 2001, Kulula introduces return flights from Durban to Johannesburg. |
2000 |
Comair British Airways starts sponsoring the Springbok rugby team as their official carrier, arguing that "tough guys need pampering". |
2000 |
Gensec and CNI sell a combined 18.3% of Comair to British Airways Plc. |
31 Oct 1999 |
Flights from Johannesburg to Lusaka (and back) commence. |
13 Aug 1999 |
On Friday the 13th Aug 1999 (aptly!), Sun Air discontinues its flight and other operations, with SAA purchasing its shares. |
Jul 1999 |
British Airways Plc sells Comair 2 Boeing 737-200s. |
Jul 1999 |
Comair directors resign from Sun Air's Board of Directors. |
11 Jul 1999 |
Flights from Cape Town to Durban (and back) commence, meaning Comair is now flying all legs of South Africa's golden triangle (Cape Town-Johannesburg-Durban). |
1998 |
Comair Limited listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange |
1 Nov 1997 |
The flights to Hoedspruit didn't last long, as Comair agrees with SA Express that they fly Comair's routes to Gabarone, Hoedspruit, Manzini, Richards Bay and Skukuza. |
1 Sep 1997 |
With the aim of merging itself with Sun Air, Comair purchases a 25% shareholding in the ill-fated Sun Air (Pty) Limited for R11m (the other owners of Sun Air are the Rethabile Consortium with 55% and Consolidated Network Investments with 25%). |
27 Oct 1996 |
Comair Limited becomes a franchise partner with British Airways, operating as British Airways Comair in the same livery and colours as British Airways flights. |
1996 |
Comair begins operating flights to Hoedspruit. |
1996 |
Comair opens up headquarters in Bonaero Park. and they begin flying to Hoedspruit. |
1995 |
Comair begins flights from Johannesburg to Windhoek. |
1995 |
The Fokker F28 are returned to their manufacturers. |
1995 |
Two ATR-42's and 2 more Boeing 737s are purchased, and a Boeing 727-200 is leased. |
1994 |
|
1993 |
Boeing 737-200 are also used on the Johannesburg - Durban flight route. |
1992 |
By the end of 1992 Comair was flying Fokker aircraft and Boeing 737-200's; operating flights from Johannesburg to Cape Town, Johannesburg to Durban, Richards Bay, Skukuza, Manzini, Gabarone and Harare. |
1992 |
Johannesburg to Cape Town flights begin (with a 737-200). |
1986 |
Flights from Johannesburg to Gabarone begin, the first time a non-government airline is allowed to operate a regular flight service outside South Africa's borders. These flights are in alliance with South African Airways. |
1984 |
Comair introduces a computer-driven flight reservation system. |
1984 |
Flights from Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg begin. The Johannesburg flights are from OR Tambo Airport (then known as Jan Smuts Airport). |
16 Sep 1983 |
Flights from Johannesburg to Margate begin. |
1982 |
Ethiopian Airlines purchases two of Comair's DC3s. |
1981 |
A training service for cabin staff is started. |
1981 |
Flights between Johannesburg and Richards Bay (two a week) are started (on behalf of South African Airways). |
1981 |
Flights between Durban and Richards Bay (two a day) are started (on behalf of South African Airways). |
1980 |
Charter flights from Johannesburg to Sun City begin. |
1980 |
The fleet of Fokker F27 Friendship aircraft is increased to three, with the purchase of two more F27s from Australia's Ansett Airlines. |
1977 |
For the first time cabin services are introduced. |
1977 |
The Fokker F27 Friendship aircraft is used on Johannesburg to Skukuza flights. |
1976 |
Purchased from Australia's Ansett Airlines, Comair's 1st Fokker F27 Friendship aircraft arrives. The plane is a propjet with 44 seats. |
1976 |
Headquarters are moved to Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport (then known as Jan Smuts Airport), from Rand Airport. |
1974 |
In order to to assist in the training of aircraft engineers, a Lockheed Lodestar (purchased in 1953) is donated to the Kempton Park Technical Institute. Later, the Lockheed Lodestar will be moved to Klapperkop's Air Force Museum. |
1969 |
With the takeover of Letaba safaris, Comair Safaris comes into being.. |
1969 |
A regular air service is started from Johannesburg to Skukuza (Kruger National Park). |
1969 |
Comair enters the jet era, by concluding a franchise for the Learjet. |
1968 |
With the purchase of a DC3 from Austrian Airlines, Comair now had 4 DC3s in service.. |
1967 |
Flying to game reserves in South Africa, Comair Fly-in Safaris are introduced (in partnership with Letaba Safaris). |
1965 |
To add to the DC3 purchased from Canada and the Swissair DC3, a third DC3 is purchased from Alitalia. |
1964 |
Increased demand for flights on the Johannesburg to Welkom and Johannesburg to Phalaborwa routes are covered by the purchase of a Swissair DC3. |
1963 |
Daily flights from Johannesburg to Phalaborwa begin. |
1963 |
Comair purchases a Dakota DC3 from Canada. |
1953 |
Comair purchases two Lockheed Lodestars, allowing for 17 seated passengers. |
1951 |
Two De Havilland Doves are purchased to provide comfort and speed on the Johannesburg - Welkom route. |
1949 |
With the purchase of two aircraft (De Havilland Rapide) from Central African Airways in Salisbury, there are now eight seated passengers on the Johannesburg to Welkom flight route. |
1949 |
Backed by Anglo American, daily flights beging from Johannesburg (Rand Airport) to Anglo's Welkom Goldfields. |
1948 |
Starts operating regular scheduled flights, with a Cessna 195 single-engined aircraft (carrying 4 passengers and a pilot), from Johannesburg to Durban, stopping at Kroonstad, Odendaalsrust, Bloemfontein, Bethlehem and Ladysmith. |
1946 |
Subsidiaries are created in Natal and Rhodesia. |
14 Jul 1946 |
Commercial Air Services flies its first charter flight from Johannesburg to Durban - the Johannesburg airport used is the Rand Airport in Germiston, and the planes used is a Fairchild UC-78. |
1946 |
With financial assistance from the National Industrial Credit Corporation, 10 Fairchild planes are purchased for one thousands pounds each (the planes were based in Cairo, Egypt) |
1945 |
Commercial Air Services is appointed Cessna distributor in South Africa. |
1943 |
Four South African Air Force pilots ( J D Human, A C Joubert, JMS Martin and L Zimmerman) register "Commercial Air Services" as a company. |
In the middle of the Egyptian desert during World War II, 3 South African Air Force pilots - AC Joubert, JMS Martin and Leon Zimmerman - chat about starting an airline. |
|
Comair has its aircraft (both Kulula and Mango) maintained by South African Technical (SAT).
R'm |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
After-tax profit |
93 |
15 |
(23) |
(97) |
73 |
79 |
109 |
Operating margin |
8.6% |
1.2% |
0.9% |
2.8% |
6.5% |
6.7% |
7.7% |
Share capital |
402 |
384 |
339 |
234 |
308 |
368 |
426 |
Number of shares (millions) |
420 |
420 |
420 |
420 |
420 |
420 |
420 |
share capital per share |
0.96 |
0.91 |
0.81 |
0.56 |
0.73 |
0.88 |
1.01 |
Profit is to end June each year, so "2007" indicates the after tax profit in the year from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007. Share capital is as at the end of the year.
Comair's financial situation is considerably healthier than it was at 30 June 2004.
Name |
Comment |
|---|---|
Moipone | I am 21 year old LLB student, currently residing in Johannesburg. I am interested in becoming a flight attentand. Kindly inform as to the proccess of becomming a flight attendant. Thank you |
Nandipha Ngcobo | Thank you for this great info about Comair. Please keep us posted when recruitments occur. Thanx. |
Brigitta Szaszi | I am a 27years old female Cabin Crew whose working from London Gatwick. I am looking for a position as a Cabin Crew to work from Jo`burg as I permanenty moving there. Could you please provide me some more information when you are reqruiting and how could I possibly apply! Regards,Brigitta |
phofane | Hi, i'm phofane, 22 years of age, i studied for a dipolma in marketing managemnt for two years, and currently studying for a BBA degree at Cida city campus, please kindly notify me of any job/intern openings or a site were i could apply, thank you. |
thato | Female 20 desperately seeking employment studying Public Relations Management part time at the University of Johannesburg contact number:0781338320 |
Bev | Hi I see that BA is offering BA Silver Class holders tier miles on all One World Partner Member flights. Do short hall flights on KALULA fall into this catagory? PLEASE RESPOND ASAP |
sally | I understand that you do inhouse training would you please inform me on how to go about this if I want to apply for inhouse training and what you require from me. I hold a diploma in Travel and Tourism(City and Guilds).Good day. |
Nomusa | Hi there! My name is nomusa i studied tourism management and have a galileo certificate please inform me if theres any job opening anything available.NOMUSAMPHML@gmail.com |
Abbie | I understood that Comair and British Airways have a special that should one wants to travel example from Durban to Bangkok/Phuket - if one has a mastercard the partner travel for free, is this so. |
tapiwa chirewa | hello... im intrested in training to be a pilot with comair... please assist me on how i can get enrolled with you....and what is requierd for this enrollment |
Sna | Goodday! i've studied travel and tourism and i have Galilieo certificate finished in 2006 but since i cant find job under tourism since i dont have an experience on travel industry.Please assit me when you have any entry levels it may be customer service,consulting,agents or anything to do with Tourism.Thank you |
Wilanda | Hi there, I have been in the tourism industry for 5years it has been one of my dreams to become a flight attendant. Please let me know when you are recruiting for cabin crew in Cape Town. Hope to hear from you soon. Thank you wswartzswartz@yahoo.com |