Air travel opens up to more people

Speaking at Lanseria Airport on Friday, 16 September 2011 as the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) launched its low cost airline, the President said the launch showed growth of the country's aviation industry.

Due to the high cost of air travel and a perception that air travel is the exclusive preserve of a privileged few, many people did not have access to air travel.

"Santaco is therefore opening air travel to the masses, building on the contribution of other low cost airlines that entered the market recently," said Zuma.

On Friday, the airline was expected to operate a test flight from Johannesburg to Bisho in the Eastern Cape.

Zuma congratulated the council for giving South Africa its first fully black-owned airline.

"The venture is significant because it's a practical example of economic and social emancipation in both ownership and consumption," said Zuma.

The airline is owned by over 10 000 taxi owners, making it one of the most broad-based black empowerment ventures in South Africa.

Government would continue to invest in infrastructure to support growth in the taxi industry and in public transport in general.