South African low-cost carrier (LCC) FlySafair, which started operations in October last year, announced on Tuesday that it is upgrading its fleet with three new generation Boeing 737-800 airliners. These were previously leased by the South African Airways group (including LCC Mango). FlySafair currently operates five 737-400 aircraft.
Furthermore, along with the new aircraft the airline will be introducing a new livery and new, lightweight, slimline seats, on all its aircraft. The new seats will first be installed on a 737-400, while the new -800 aircraft will start to enter service in October and November. It will also start flying to two new destinations in October.
New generation 737s, like the -800, offer greater fuel efficiency over earlier models, like the -400. To be as competitive as possible with its -400 airliners, FlySafair lightened them as much as possible, removing unnecessary fittings such as ovens and air stairs. Less weight means less fuel is burned.
"We can offer a superior product," airline CEO Elmar Conradie told a media briefing at OR Tambo International Airport, east of Johannesburg. "The introduction of the -800s basically means an increase in [our] capacity. Our next focus is on the trade and corporates [passenger markets]. Our focus until now was on [the] leisure [market]. The reason for that was the lack of a [more comprehensive] route network. Now we have that route network, so we can go for [the] corporates [market]."
Hitherto, the airline has linked Johannesburg, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and George. In October, it will add Durban and East London (from both Cape Town and Johannesburg in each case).
The new 737-800s will increase the airline's fleet to eight aircraft, of which five will be needed to operate the route network. "The plan now would be to phase the -400s out," he stated. "In our business model, they've got about one year left." The LCC intends to operate only one type and version of airliner, to reduce costs.
FlySafair is a new brand within a well-established company, Safair Operations. While the LCC has been operating for less than a year, its parent is some 50 years old. Thus, FlySafair's airliners are maintained by Safair Operations, which has long experience with 737s (hence the LCC's choice of airliner for its operations.)