Former Comair (South Africa) (MN, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo) co-chief executive Gidon Novick has announced plans to establish a new low-cost carrier in the South African market by the end of the year.

In an interview with eNCA news, Novick said that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, a viability study had shown there is room for a new entrant. He, however, declined to provide any further details stating only that a launch date was still being finalised.

Following a 10-week moratorium, South Africa allowed the resumption of domestic commercial flight operations - for "business purposes" alone - on June 1. Since then, Mango Airlines, CemAir, Airlink (South Africa), and FlySafair have all resumed domestic flights.

However, Comair, which operates a British Airways franchise and its Kulula Air low-cost brand, which Novick helped found, has remained grounded given ongoing business rescue proceedings. The privately-owned carrier holding is assembling a business restructuring plan which could see half of its fleet withdrawn alongside layoffs and asset disposals.

For its part, given what has...