KHUPHUKA Kings Airways, a new airline
offering cargo flights from Durban’s
Dube Trade Port, plans to launch
passenger services later this year on
routes it believes are “untapped”.
Marketing director, Sihle Bam, says
the plan is to launch scheduled and
charter flights from Durban to Nigeria,
Swaziland and the DRC. “We have
prioritised cargo for the initial phase
and this will give a stable foundation
to build on for passenger flights in the
next phase,” says Sihle. The passenger
flights will be operated with a 150-seat
Airbus A319 and a 180-seat Airbus
A320.
In February, Khuphuka introduced
its cargo flights between Durban and
Lubumbashi via Ndola. The airline was
ounded in Durban, which is
where the head office and
main operations team are
located.
“We have done some
extensive groundwork to
start cargo routes to these
destinations. It makes sense
for us to therefore extend
these routes into passenger
flights as well.”
Sihle adds that Khuphuka
Kings Airways aims to create
“easy travel” on routes where
there is currently a shortage
of services, particularly in
Africa. “For any business to
succeed in a competitive
environment, it must target
areas where the demand
exceeds the current supply,”
he says.
The airline’s launch is set
for September. Khuphuka is
in the process of acquiring
the necessary aviation
certification and hopes to
have the process completed in
the next six months. But Sihle
says the airline has made an
interim arrangement to fly with
temporary permits while the
AOC process is under way.
Khuphuka Kings Airways
was founded by Musa Mdluli,
who spent 13 years in exile in
Russia and other countries.
He studied medicine and
practised as a doctor while
establishing relationships
with Russian, Ukrainian and
German business people,
including aircraft operators,
who now play a role in the
operations of Khuphuka
Kings Airways and are leasing
aircraft to the airline. “The
Khuphuka Kings team is
passionate, resilient and
determined to make a positive
impact on the South African
economy and Africa as a
whole.”
