FlyCemAir launches new route between East London and Joburg

FlyCemAir launched its new route between East London and Johannesburg, taking off from King Phalo Airport yesterday morning.

Flights leave at 6am and take off from OR Tambo International at 6pm on separate schedules.

The CRJ200 jet accommodated 50 passengers, and had an 80% load factor for its first flight, FlyCemAir chief commercial officer Shaniel Singh said.

“It’s exciting. It’s something that’s been on the cards for a long time for us, the fact that it can cater a full-day business trip for Eastern Cape travellers who can spend far less money.

“You don’t need accommodation for the night, your business can be wrapped up in a day and you can go back home,” Singh said.

The inaugural flight from Johannesburg took off with a 60% load on Sunday.

Flight times follow traditional business scheduling.

Morning flights leave East London from Monday to Friday while on the Johannesburg to East London route, late evening flights are from Sunday to Thursday.

Singh said all flights included 21kg checked luggage, 6kg hand luggage, and a snack and beverage on board.

In April last year, FlyCemAir launched an East London to Cape Town route.

This route was suspended in January.

“It is temporarily suspended due to the fact that there is too much capacity in the market; depending on how that changes we may introduce it, but it is currently suspended.”

Singh said ablution facilities on the flight were available, after recent articles stated passengers on short-haul flights across Southern Africa were barred from using the toilet on board their aircraft.

“One passenger complained there wasn’t a bathroom on a certain routing. The only aircraft that doesn’t have a toilet on board is the Beechcraft 1900 and it is used occasionally on certain routes.”