South Africa has just announced a brand new airline that is set to start running domestic flights towards the end of the year, and instead of hiring a team of marketing professionals to brand it, it’s turned to the country to help find a name. Having announced a competition to find a suitable title for the business, the airline has said that as well as the satisfaction and pride, the winner will receive free flights for a year.

A partnership between Kulula founder Gidon Novick and Global Aviation, the airline’s first flight will be running on the popular route between Johannesburg and Cape Town, and is planned to take its maiden voyage in December 2020. A note on the airline’s competition website has asked the public to “Help to find a name that is unique, aspirational, and cool – [and] if selected, you could be the lucky winner of a year’s free travel on the airline valued at R480 000 ($28,200 US).”

500px Photo ID: 104168527 -
Cape Town, South Africa © Adam Rozanski / 500px

The airline has said that it has “drawn inspiration from Uber’s high tech, customer obsessed approach to mobility.” Speaking recently to Business Tech, Kulula’s Gidon Novick said that recent changes in the market have opened a door for a new way to approach the business. “The pandemic has created a unique opportunity to start an airline that is not only dramatically more efficient but also inventive and creative by tapping into the unique talent that our country offers,” he said.

Let’s just hope it doesn’t end in a Boaty McBoatface scenario, where a state-of-the-art polar research vessel was given the name after more than 16,500 people voted for it online.

Details on the competition can found on the Brand New Airline’s official website. The winner is due to be announced within the next two weeks.

Read more:

A new biking trail will connect these top Canadian surf towns
Gordon Ramsay is seeking young, food-loving travelers for his new series
Ryanair teases the Irish Government with this cheeky job posting

Explore related stories

Woman in fitness, epidemiologist, biostatistician, business woman, strong African woman, African original, Strong, Badass, Bold, Energetic
1063306764
Woman using a mobile phone in a taxi - stock photo
Woman in fitness, epidemiologist, biostatistician, business woman, strong African woman, African original, Strong, Badass, Bold, Energetic

Destination Practicalities

Everything you need to know about getting around South Africa

Aug 27, 2023 • 6 min read