Skywise

Skywise Airlines was a South African low-cost carrier established in March 2013 by Tabassum Qadir and J. Malik. The airline was headquartered in Johannesburg and based its operations at O. R. Tambo International Airport. It was created to compete in South Africa’s domestic aviation market, particularly on the heavily travelled Johannesburg–Cape Town route. Skywise obtained its air service licence in 2014 and conducted its official launch flight on 11 February 2015. Daily scheduled operations began on 5 March 2015. Rather than building a broad domestic or regional network, the airline concentrated on a single trunk route between Cape Town International Airport and O. R. Tambo International Airport. At its intended peak, the schedule reached as many as eight return flights per day, although the airline later reduced this to six return flights daily while it attempted to stabilize and revitalize the business. The airline presented itself as a low-cost alternative for passengers travelling between South Africa’s two principal commercial cities. Its commercial ecosystem included arrangements with BidAir Cargo, Menzies Aviation and Computicket. These relationships covered cargo, airport and aviation handling, and ticket distribution. Skywise also explored the possibility of acquiring another Boeing 737 and adding routes to other African countries, but those plans did not become established operations. Skywise faced serious operational and financial difficulties during its short period of service. In October 2015, it was prevented from departing from Cape Town or Johannesburg for several hours on multiple days because of unpaid amounts reportedly owed to Airports Company South Africa and Air Traffic and Navigation Services. The disruption affected some, but not all, flights, while public reporting characterized the episode more broadly as the airline being grounded. Skywise disputed the extent of the disruption but later acknowledged receiving a warning that its airport operations could be shut down because of unpaid airport charges. By 10 November 2015, all of the airline’s aircraft had been withdrawn and operations effectively stopped. Flights did not resume, and the company’s website was subsequently shut down. Skywise therefore remained a short-lived domestic airline, operating scheduled flights for only part of 2015. Its history illustrates the difficulties faced by new low-cost carriers entering a competitive market with substantial airport, aircraft and infrastructure costs.

Skywise was founded in South Africa in March 2013 by Tabassum Qadir and J. Malik. The venture was intended to enter the country’s domestic low-cost aviation market, where the Johannesburg–Cape Town corridor offered a large pool of business and leisure travellers. The airline received its air service licence in 2014 and prepared for a focused launch rather than an extensive network rollout. The official launch flight took place on 11 February 2015. On 5 March 2015, Skywise began daily scheduled services between O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and Cape Town International Airport. This was the only route documented as being operated by the airline. The carrier was headquartered in Sandton City, Johannesburg, and based its aircraft at O. R. Tambo. At one stage, its schedule was described as providing up to eight return flights per day, reflecting an attempt to compete through frequency on South Africa’s principal domestic air corridor. Skywise developed commercial relationships with BidAir Cargo, Menzies Aviation and Computicket. BidAir Cargo was associated with cargo support, Menzies Aviation with aviation and ground-handling services, and Computicket with ticket distribution. The company also indicated ambitions to acquire an additional Boeing 737, increase frequencies and eventually serve destinations elsewhere in Africa. Those expansion plans remained prospective and were not translated into a sustained regional network. The airline’s operating position weakened during the second half of 2015. On 20 October, Skywise said it would reduce its Johannesburg–Cape Town frequency from eight to six return flights a day while it worked on plans to revitalize the business. Earlier in the month, the airline had encountered a dispute involving unpaid charges to Airports Company South Africa and Air Traffic and Navigation Services. On 11, 12 and 13 October, restrictions prevented some flights from departing Cape Town or Johannesburg for several hours. Six of the airline’s 24 flights over the three-day period were reported as affected, while Skywise maintained that the disruption was narrower than some media accounts suggested. The airport-charge dispute produced substantial negative publicity. Skywise later confirmed that it had received notice from the airport company warning that it could be shut down because of unpaid airport charges. By 10 November 2015, all of the airline’s aircraft had been withdrawn, effectively ending its operations. Flights never resumed, and the official website was eventually taken offline. Skywise also associated itself with community and commemorative initiatives. Its maiden flight carried children from Kgamane High School and young people connected with the Thembekile Mandela Foundation, in an event linked to the anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison. Later in 2015, the airline supported the painting of classrooms at Kgamane High School and provided stationery for the Laudium Youth Summit. These activities formed part of the company’s public-facing community profile during its brief operating life. The company was described as predominantly South African-owned, with reported participation by members of the Mandela family and Skywise executive Irfan Pardesi, while Tabassum Qadir’s Pak Africa was associated with the remaining ownership interest. The available reference material does not establish a continuing corporate successor or a formal relaunch, so Skywise is best classified as a defunct airline whose scheduled service lasted only part of 2015.

• 2015

  Official launch flight

  [1]Skywise (airline)en.wikipedia.org

  The airline conducted its official launch flight on 11 February.

• 2015

  Scheduled operations begin

  [1]Skywise (airline)en.wikipedia.org

  Daily scheduled flights between Johannesburg and Cape Town commenced on 5 March.

• 2015

  Frequency reduced amid stabilization efforts

  [1]Skywise (airline)en.wikipedia.org

  Skywise announced a reduction from eight to six daily return flights on its only route while seeking to revitalize the airline.

• 2015

  Operations cease

  [1]Skywise (airline)en.wikipedia.org

  All aircraft had been withdrawn by 10 November, and Skywise ceased scheduled operations.

• 2014

  Air service licence obtained

  [1]Skywise (airline)en.wikipedia.org

  Skywise received the licence required to operate air services in South Africa.

• 2013

  Skywise founded

  [1]Skywise (airline)en.wikipedia.org

  Tabassum Qadir and J. Malik founded Skywise in South Africa as a proposed low-cost domestic airline.

South African low-cost domestic airline focused on frequent, affordable travel between Johannesburg and Cape Town.

• Domestic passenger air travel · 2015

  Johannesburg–Cape Town scheduled flights

  Skywise’s principal and apparently sole scheduled passenger product was a domestic service linking O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg with Cape Town International Airport. The route was operated at a high frequency, reaching as many as eight return flights per day before being reduced to six return flights daily during the airline’s attempts to stabilize its business. Operations ended in November 2015.

• Cargo support

  Air cargo arrangements

  Skywise maintained a partnership with BidAir Cargo, indicating an ancillary cargo capability connected with its airline operations. The available material does not specify routes, cargo volumes or a separately marketed Skywise cargo product.

• 2015

  Dispute over unpaid airport and navigation charges

  Skywise was temporarily prevented from departing Cape Town or Johannesburg on several days in October after a dispute concerning unpaid amounts reportedly owed to Airports Company South Africa and Air Traffic and Navigation Services. Skywise said media coverage overstated the extent of the disruption, but later acknowledged receiving a warning that its operations could be shut down because of unpaid airport charges.

  Source

Read more

• 2015Mandela release anniversary maiden-flight initiative

  South Africa

  Skywise linked its maiden flight on 11 February with the 25th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison. The flight carried children from Kgamane High School in Mpumalanga and young people associated with the Thembekile Mandela Foundation.

  Outcome. The initiative gave the airline a community and commemorative profile during its launch period.

  Source
• 201567 Minutes of Mandela classroom project

  South Africa

  On 18 July, Skywise supported the painting of 14 classrooms at Kgamane High School in Malapyane as part of a community activity associated with the 67 Minutes of Mandela observance.

  Outcome. The project provided a local educational-facilities contribution; no broader commercial outcome is documented.

  Source
• 2015Laudium Youth Summit support

  South Africa

  Skywise supplied stationery, including pens, rulers and bags, for the Laudium Youth Summit organized by the Laudium Women’s Network.

  Outcome. The sponsorship supported a community youth event; no additional outcome is reported.

  Source

• 2015

  Reduce route frequency while pursuing a turnaroundStrategy

  Background

  Skywise faced operating pressure during its first year of scheduled service and was also dealing with disputes over airport-related charges.

  Action taken

  The airline announced on 20 October that it would reduce the Johannesburg–Cape Town schedule from eight to six return flights per day while working on plans to revitalize the business.

  Aftermath

  The proposed stabilization did not lead to a sustained recovery. The fleet was withdrawn and operations ended in November 2015.

  Source

• 2015

  Consider additional aircraft and African routesOther

  Background

  Skywise sought to expand capacity beyond its initial single-route operation.

  Action taken

  The airline announced that it was considering acquiring an additional Boeing 737 and exploring regional routes to other African countries.

  Aftermath

  The plans were not implemented before Skywise ceased operations.

  Source

1. 1Skywise (airline)en.wikipedia.org