The Mozambican tourism industry is hopeful that low-cost airline 1time, which recently joined SAA and LAM on the Maputo-Johannesburg route, will bring more visitors from South Africa into Mozambique.
This is according to Mozambique Hotel Association president, Quessanias Matsombe, who was cited in an article by Business Report. 1time entered the market on the 12th of August with fares roughly 50 percent below those offered by LAM and SAA. 1time has so far enjoyed success on the route, with the carrier's CEO Rodney James stating that the airline could easily fill twice the number of seats it has been allocated.
The Mozambique Hotel Association has called for South African low-cost airline kulula to follow 1time into the Mozambique market in order to guarantee competitive air fares, Business report has reported.
Meanwhile, the joint CEO of kulula, Erik Venter, is cited as saying that Kulula is seeking to operate flights between Maputo and Johannesburg's Lanseria airport in the near future. However, Business Report did not obtain any comment from the Mozambican authorities, by whom the decision to grant air rights to another low-cost airline will be made.
Rodney James, CEO of 1time, welcomed the idea of rival kulula entering the market - provided the latter flies at different times of day to 1time - saying that kulula would likely open the market further.
Source: Agência de Publicidade
