RussianJet From Kazakhstan, joined Jul 2007, 4836 posts, RR: 24 Posted (3 years 3 months 1 week 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1580 times:
Are there any 'true' African LCCs? I can only think of Kalula in South Africa. Seems to me that there is huge potential, particularly in countries with large populations like Nigeria with a need for air transport. There must be some operators with an LCC approach, who are they?
Would true low cost travel a la FR really work in many African countries? If not, why not? I know infrastructure etc. is severely lacking in many parts, but still.
Kleinsim From Qatar, joined Jan 2007, 154 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (3 years 3 months 1 week 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1568 times:
Hello RussianJet,
I can't think of one off the bat. I could see there being some problems with international flights due to restrictive bilaterals of many African countries. Most will want to preserve their (weak) national carriers rather than giving the market to a foreign LCC. Most African countries are not large enough to support a sizable LCC within that country (given the infrastructure, number of large cities, etc.). I could see it working in Nigeria though.
There are of course some attempts such as Air Arabia Maroc which was just announced in another forum entry. We'll see how it goes.
Flitemax From Spain, joined Aug 2007, 249 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (3 years 3 months 1 week 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1553 times:
Quoting Kleinsim (Reply 1): If not, why not? I know infrastructure etc. is severely lacking in many parts, but still.
You answered your own question!
An LCC-friendly environment puts reliable infrastructure as a given. This is not the case in most of Africa. Beyond this, LCC operators need many options to choose from in order to keep their cost structure within target, that is, permitting margins above those of legacy carriers. For example, it might be to operate from a smaller regional airport rather than an international airport. Or it might be to source aviation fuel from an alternative supplier. Ironically, many oil-producing countries in the region must import aviation fuel because of their lack of refining capacity. Even if av gas was available steadily, the source is often a monopoly.
You brought up Nigeria. While it might be true that the country has the largest population in the continent, flying remains the concern of the extremely wealthy and middle class, both of which when combined constitute less than 4-5% of the population although this is increasing since the return of democracy. The country has a total of 22 airports with the capacity to land a 737-size airliner, but most of them are run by the same operator (govt-owned FAAN) and are below international safety standards.
When taking all of these factors, plus many others I can't bother to bore you with, it becomes evident that what Africa needs urgently is to build up reliable infrastructure, not only within its aviation scene but also the whole supply chain of allied industries. Of course, this hasn't stopped some operators from branding themselves as LCC's, with genuine attempts to curb their costs and offer reliable regular flights, but I fear their efforts are in vein until the infrastructure gap is resolved.
The more dare devil investors who flock to such places like Nigeria sometimes face a situation where BYOI (Bring Your Own Infrastructure) is a reality. Some industries can withstand that (oil and other extractive industries, telecom) but the airline industry, and certainly the LCC model, is incompatible with this.
Quoting Flitemax (Reply 4): Kulula, Moroccan Regional Airlines (rumored to be taken over by Air Arabia), Dana Air Nigeria, and I think Fly540 in Kenya.
Add Jet4you in Morocco; Atlas Blue too in Morocco;
El dia que los gilipollas vuelen, no podremos ver la luz del sol!
TravellerPlus From New Zealand, joined Nov 2008, 313 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (3 years 3 months 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 1017 times:
Russian Jet, I think an important factor in the success of LCC's is that they can sell their services direct. LCC's require a level of built in automation to be a success, eg internet booking systems. This requires reliable phone and credit card services, not to mention internet access. This is one reason why the LCC's are in South Africa, but not elsewhere.
Africa also has 53 countries, the greatest number of any continent. Thjs means that international traffic rights will be vital to expand beyond limited borders. I think the greater reason lies with Kleinsim's answer about protecting the incumbent government-owned carriers.
What goes around comes around....unless your luggage is not on the carousel...
Cornish From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2005, 8186 posts, RR: 59 Reply 10, posted (3 years 3 months 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 1017 times:
Quoting TravellerPlus (Reply 9): Africa also has 53 countries, the greatest number of any continent. Thjs means that international traffic rights will be vital to expand beyond limited borders. I think the greater reason lies with Kleinsim's answer about protecting the incumbent government-owned carriers.
Absolutely. the Yamassoukro Agreement signed between African nations was supposed to bring about much needed open skies to the continent and stimulate air traffic as a result.
Sadly only a few countries have put it into practice and so you're only likely to see a few LCCs in some of the bigger markets, operating primarily domestic services only until this changes.
Just when I thought I could see light at the end of the tunnel, it was some B*****d with a torch bringing me more work
Flitemax From Spain, joined Aug 2007, 249 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (3 years 3 months 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 1017 times:
Interesting to see that Nigeria's DANA which announced it would be Nigeria's first "LCC" is now branding itself as a Nigeria's first "New world carrier" and charging a whopping $340 on Lagos-Abuja return flight.
Greenair727 From United States of America, joined Jan 2007, 374 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (3 years 3 months 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 1017 times:
Angola has one, or at least that claims to be an LCC, called Air 26. I can't find a website for them, if they have one (or it may not come in English-language searches). But there's some info here:
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