New low-cost airline to operate out of Mthatha

19 July 2016 - 13:54 By Mkhululi Ndamase

Flying from Mthatha to Johannesburg will‚ from October 1‚ cost R799 – that is‚ if you take to the skies with new airline Fly Blu Crane. This was announced at the Mthatha Airport on Tuesday by Eastern Cape transport MEC Weziwe Tikana‚ who described the new low-cost airline as a game-changer and a catalyst for the OR Tambo region.Tikana said the introduction of the new airline would also create a total of 24 jobs for OR Tambo residents.The R799 flight charge is far below the current rate of more than R3000 to Johannesburg.Public Protector ‘shocked and appalled’ by office invasionWhile Fly Blu Crane will initially only offer two flights a day between Mthatha and Johannesburg‚ other routes will be added to connect the former Transkei capital to other major cities.Government also hopes that‚ with the introduction of the new flight‚ road accident fatalities will decrease as it will now be more affordable to fly.Fly Blu Crane airport operations head Stompie Tshesane said the airline was in the final stages of preparing to service the Mthatha to Johannesburg route.Tshesane said that‚ unlike other low-cost airlines‚ it will be providing free meals and beverages onboard.“We will be operating an Andrea 145‚ which is a jet and is a 50-seater aircraft‚” she said.Tikana called on all to "embrace" the new airline. – TMG Digital/Daily Dispatch..

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