With much fanfare and grand expectations SA's newest low-cost domestic carrier, Lift Airline, took to the skies this week — amid much confusion over its operating licence.
The airline, run by Global Aviation Operations, made its first flight on Thursday, from Cape Town to Johannesburg.
On the same day the South African Civil Aviation Authority (Sacaa) issued a statement accusing the airline of operating illegally because it did not have the necessary documents to fly.
In a statement, spokesperson Kabelo Ledwaba said: “The Sacaa is not in possession of and has not issued the necessary operating permits and licences to an airline using the name Lift. This simply means that when any passenger or crew member steps into an airline with Lift as its aircraft livery, they board a phantom airline.”
Ledwaba said it therefore remained to be seen what entity people could approach in the event of operational mishaps or other complaints.
“Would it be Global Aviation Operations. or would it be the non-existing airline cunningly marketed as Lift. Should anything go amiss, and the aircraft accident and incident investigation team be required to conduct a probe, they will find no records relating to the Lift Airline.”
Later, the aviation agency released a further statement saying that “a rough draft of a holding statement regarding Lift was erroneously placed on the Sacaa website”.
It confirmed that Lift “complied with the requirements necessary to operate and is in possession of all essential permits and certificates”, and apologised for the embarrassment caused to the airline.
Lift was cofounded by former Uber executive Jonathan Ayache and Gidon Novick, who founded Kulula.com.
Novick said the Sacaa mix-up was “obviously stressful but it went away, dealt with and clarified fairly quickly. It was bizarre, but we accept their apology.”
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