South African entrepreneur Gidon Novick has revealed further details about his proposed new low-cost carrier which is aiming to launch operations by the end of the year.

The former head of Comair (South Africa) and the pioneer of its Kulula Air budget brand told Tourism Update that the yet-to-be-named carrier will be backed by private capital and will use an existing Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) to target trunk South African routes; Johannesburg O.R. Tambo-Cape Town International initially.

In terms of fleet, the LCC will use wholly-owned aircraft - such as the A320, B737-400 or the B737-800 - a model that is favoured by FlySafair (FA, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo) at present.

"We don't plan to be massive or to grow very quickly; keeping it simple, tight, reliable and efficient," he said. "With an aviation industry that has been turned upside down, there is an opportunity from a cost viewpoint to create something very efficient relative to what existing airlines are able to do."

On an exact timeframe for launching, Novick said that would depend on South Africa's market returning to a degree of normalcy as high loads are critical to the LCC model.

"Timing is critical, and we are in no rush," he said.

Aside from Kulula and FlySafair, South Africa is currently home to one other LCC, state-owned Mango Airlines (MNO, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo).

On Monday, Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula will hold a press conference on the further resumption of operations of South Africa's aviation industry.