A new domestic carrier backed by the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) is set to launch low-cost flights from Bhisho, the capital of the Eastern Cape Province, to Johannesburg and plans to add flights to Cape Town at a later date. The start-up is offering passengers a business model with a difference, including the opportunity to include ground taxi transfers at both origin and destination within the price of the flight ticket. “Our airline cost will have a flat fee structure, which will range between R500 and R600,” said Jabulani Mthembu, President, Santaco.

The formation of the carrier has surprised many locals given that the nation’s mini-bus taxi industry is not best known for its customer service or the quality of its drivers, a view that the company’s Business Development Officer, Nkululeko Buthelezi seems to share. “I can see some of you rolling your eyes because of how our taxi drivers drive... I can assure you we won't allow our taxi drivers to drive [the planes],” he said during an interview highlighting Santaco’s plans earlier this year.

The carrier will operate under the brand Santaco Airlines but will use crews and aircraft sourced from existing charter and ACMI provider Star Cargo, which is based at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport. It is expected to operate a single Boeing 737-200 and plans to serve Lanseria International Airport in Johannesburg, rather than OR Tambo International Airport, launching flights early next year.

A proof of concept event for the start-up took place last week and was attended by His Excellency Jacob Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa who highlighted Santaco’s achievements in ground transportation and celebrated its expansion into the aviation business.

“A sector that was branded by some as never going to be able to progress to even own fleets of buses, has leapfrogged into the aviation industry by owning an airline. We applaud Santaco for this brave step in giving the country its first fully black-owned airline,” he said. “A significant number of our people who relied on taxis and buses only, will now be able to access Santaco Airlines’ services between Johannesburg, Cape Town and the Eastern Cape opening air travel to the masses.”

After establishing its operations at Bhisho, Santaco plans to develop services on other underserved South African markets and has already highlighted Mthatha, also in the Eastern Cape, as a likely future destination. “We will travel where everyone else is scared to travel,” said Jabulani Mthembu.