FlyCemAir launched their new routes between East London and Johannesburg, taking off from King Phalo Airport in the cloudy early Monday morning.
Flights leave at 6am and take off from OR Tambo International at 6pm on separate schedules.
The CRJ200 jet accommodates 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 2023, FlyCemAir launched an East London to Cape Town route. However, this route was suspended in January 2024.
“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.
“The Johannesburg flight is on a jet, it has lavatory services on board and passengers are more than welcome to use it.”
King Phalo Airport manager Nicola Smith said the expansion was a great addition to the airport, which provides air services to 20 daily flights from three airlines — FlyCemAir, FlySaFair and Airlink.
“King Phalo Airport has seen steady growth in passenger numbers since the commencement of FlyCemAir,” Smith said.
“For the month of March, the airport processed 72,739 passengers, which is a 141% recovery for the same period in 2019.”
Border Kei Chamber of Business executive director Lizelle Maurice said she was excited.
“You can plan your business more efficiently — go in and out of Johannesburg on the same day. This encourages more in-person meetings.”
East London performer Daniel Anderson, 24, from Beacon Bay, has been travelling the country in 2024 for performances in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg by car or plane.
“Being able to fly to Joburg so early would mean I don’t lose a day to travel.
“There are auditions too, and travelling in the morning would be very helpful especially because I don’t live in the big cities.
“You have to be there in person, they don’t care if you live in East London.”
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