This was announced at Mthatha Airport on Tuesday by Eastern Cape transport MEC Weziwe Tikana‚ who described the new low-cost airline as a game-changer and a catalyst for the OR Tambo district municipality.
Tikana said the introduction of the new airline would also create a total of 24 jobs for OR Tambo residents.
The R799 flight charge is far below the current rate of more than R3,000 to Johannesburg.
While Fly Blue Crane will initially offer only two flights a day between Mthatha and Johannesburg‚ other routes will be added to connect the former Transkei capital to other major cities.
The government also hopes that‚ with the introduction of the new flight‚ road accident fatalities will decrease as it will now be more affordable to fly.
Fly Blue Crane airport operations head Stompie Tshesane said the airline was in the final stages of preparing to service the Mthatha to Johannesburg route.
Tshesane said that‚ unlike other low-cost airlines‚ it will be providing free meals and beverages onboard.
"We will be operating an Andrea 145‚ which is a jet and is a 50-seater aircraft‚" she said.
Tikana called on all to "embrace" the new airline.
TMG Digital
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