A new low-cost South African airline meant to start flying by December will be called Lift, after a name competition that brought in suggestions ranging from Ubuntu Air and FlyMsanzi to many that didn’t take off, like Djyrynie.
Partnering in the new airline are Global Aviation, an established airline operator, Kulula founder Gidon Novick and former Uber executive Jonathan Ayache.
“We want our new airline to be a collaboration with all South Africans, and a statement of optimism,” Novick told TravelNews. The name was chosen from over 25,000 suggestions.
“This naming process proved to us once again how very resilient, creative and inspiring South Africans are. We had so much fun going through the entries. Some were so thoughtful and inspiring like ‘Ubuntu Air’ and ‘FlyMzansi’. ’Djyrynie’ and ‘Planey McPlaneface’ were never going to fly while ‘Gravy Plane’ must have confused us with another airline!”
Lift is meant to launch before the end of 2020 with a route between Johannesburg and Cape Town.
