Page 64 - World Airnews Magazine January 2021 Edition

NEWS DIGITAL

PRIVATE AIRLINE CEMAIR TO

EXPAND BEYOND SOUTH AFRICA

The company has experienced a growth spurt as a result of
changes in the aviation landscape caused by the pandemic

by Lorne Philpot

CEMAIR FILLS GAP IN MARKET

Since 1 June, local airlines were able to resume domestic flights.
While many airlines all over the globe face severe Cemair took advantage of the gap in the market that was created
challenges, including ongoing business rescue processes, filing for by the absence of other major airlines under business rescue
bankruptcy or downsizing their operations, the privately owned processes.
Cemair has since expanded its route network and now offers
South African airline company Cemair is scaling up. scheduled flights to the larger airports in South Africa including
This is somewhat of an anomaly considering the grim conditions Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, Bloemfontein, George and
still being experienced in the aviation sector. Kimberley. The additional flights mean increased choice and more
competitive fares for passengers.
CEMAIR’S HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Cemair was founded in 2005 by Miles van der Molen, a pilot CEMAIR PLANS TO EXPAND
himself. Before COVID-19, Cemair primarily operated charter Cemair is licensed to provide both scheduled and non-scheduled
flights and leased its aircraft to other airlines. domestic and international flights. The airline intends to expand
The airline also operated scheduled flights to smaller airports in its operations in Africa. Cemair has applied for rights to operate
South Africa including Hoedspruit, Margate and Plettenberg Bay. scheduled flights to six destinations outside of South Africa.
The fact that certain regional destinations are still not being
CEMAIR’S FLEET served by any airline presents an ideal opportunity for Cemair to
Cemair’s fleet consists of 34 aircraft, mainly smaller aircraft which launch new routes.
carry fewer passengers than the other airlines in South Africa. All “It is now or never,” said Cemair marketing manager Shaniel
of the aircraft in Cemair’s fleet are owned by the company. Singh.
In addition, Cemair is licensed to perform aircraft maintenance. Cemair has purchased three Airbus A 319 aircraft which it will
The company can therefore carry out servicing and maintenance deploy on its new regional flights once approval has been granted
on its own aircraft, which enables increased efficiency and cost for these routes.
savings.
CEMAIR WELL POSITIONED TO EXPAND
CEMAIR SEIZES THE MOMENT COVID-19 has completely changed the aviation landscape. This has
When South Africa moved to lockdown level three earlier in 2020, presented Cemair with an ideal opportunity to scale up. Cemair
airlines were granted permission to resume scheduled flights, having smaller aircraft could help it to operate more efficiently
subject to health and safety protocols. It did not take long for while there is a slump in demand for aviation.
Cemair to implement the obligatory health and safety protocols, Flying empty aircraft is not economically viable and results in
and to get back into the skies. airlines suspending routes or reducing frequencies.
Cemair was the first airline to begin scheduled domestic flights Aviation expert Joachim Vermooten said it was vital for airlines
in South Africa. With Airlink, Mango and FlySafair needing more to use the most suitable aircraft for every route they operated. He
time to implement COVID-19 protocols ahead of the resumption of said managing supply and demand was essential if airlines were to
their scheduled flights, Cemair was quickly able to begin offering survive the current conditions.
mainstream scheduled flights to larger cities including Durban and “When you fail to fill up a large aircraft, you lose money very
Cape Town. fast,” Vermooten said. Q

World Airnews | December Extra 2020
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