Imperial and Kulula tie another five-year knot

Kulula's MD Gidon Novick said a huge part of the airline's growth was being able to offer a one stop shop. "Currently about 15 % of our customers take up the offer of a rental car in addition to booking a flight and we predict huge growth in this area."

Kulula.com operates on twelve routes and has just flown its four millionth passenger, while the fly and drive deal has taken Imperial, traditionally strong in the corporate market, into the leisure market.

"In the early days when low-cost airlines were first introduced to the SA market, we were confident that this new concept would take off and this prompted us to enter into a partnership that has far exceeded our expectations," said Imperial MD Dawn Jones.

According to Novick, "The affordable and competitive rate that Imperial offers our customers is only one aspect of the partnership success - it is also the proactive, flexible and dynamic energy that creates an incredible chemistry between our two companies. If it was a marriage in the true sense of the word, it would last forever."