1Time airline
Who is 1time? - article from http://www.aviationdimension.com/
Gavin Harrison, Glenn Orsmond, Rodney James and Sven Petersen not just four individuals but rather a collection of aviation knowledge, entrepreneurial skills and a burning desire to breathe life into their latest aviation idea, which was not only well matured within their mental workshops but was also well aligned with the industrial requirements of the aviation industry at the time decided that the time had come to now go ahead with this ingeniously engineered aviation venture.
The concept of low cost carriers was not new to South Africa but every now and then in the industrial complexity that is aviation, someone, somewhere, has a clear and well defined idea that just has to work due to its innovative capability and ability to meet market requirements and desires.
Feeling that for too long the aviation industry had stagnated into current systems and the inherent limitations created thereby, the bold four decided to attack the market with a no-nonsense, no frills approach.
After the unfortunate happenings of 9/11, the worldwide airline industry suffered very serious economic setbacks seeing the advent of the low cost carrier, paving the way ahead for a majority of domestic and in some cases international carriers.
During this period the stronger than before Rand, opened new horizons for South African based carriers and it was during this period that 1time was to become a reality.
Not only did the economy of the time allow for such a concept but the SA aviation industry had long been over capitalized by market monopolies which saw the passenger having to deal with high-cost tickets, which in many cases reduced travel numbers yet balanced this lack through the high ticket prices at the time. This was the ideal time for a low fare concept to erupt onto the market.
With the bold four being the owners of Afrisource Holdings, an aviation holding company, which in turn owned Aeronexus, another aviation company that could provide both manpower and aircraft resources, the basis for the birth of 1time was present. Soon the necessary funding would be taken-up by various businessmen after the presentation of an effective and open business plan for the 1time idea. Through many of these investors, a full spread of airline executives, managers as well as IT resources were sourced which were essential to the running of the 1time airline.
With all of its guns loaded and ready to fire, 1time opened its Internet ticket sales "shop" as well as its Johannesburg and Cape Town International counters on the 22nd of January 2004. Operations within 1time commenced soon thereafter on the 25th of February 2004 with the first scheduled flights occurring with three return flights a day on the Johannesburg-Cape Town route. Today destinations have grown and the airline also serves the Durban and East London routes.
Why 1time?
"1time" or the phrase "one time" represents a South African colloquialism which means "for real." This coupled to the Airline’s slogan "Azikho lo nonsense" (no nonsense, or "no bull") further reflects the one Time Airline’s determination to offer the public an airline which promised safety, a serious approach but in the end basically said "Fly here, it is by far the best priced quality ticket you could find with no-nonsense attached to the deal…"
This statement also indicated the low fare business model, which was employed by the Airline. At the time, there was another operator in the country, which also operated as a low fare carrier but for a carrier to be fully represented in this category, that carrier should be formed on such a model as from its creation which put 1time on the map as South Africa’s first true no-nonsense, no frills, low cost carrier.
The then strengthening local economy coupled to the dropping aircraft values of the time following the 9/11 attacks, created the possibility of either purchasing or leasing a fleet at ideal rates which would allow for the establishment of an airline directly into the low cost model.
Some of the innovations included into daily operations included the following:
Ticket-less Air Travel through Internet bookings *
Onboard food and drink sales saving the passenger finances through choice *
Low fares are never subject to availability or restrictions but advertised, "As is" *
Low fares are advertised for every seat, on every flight, at any time, every day
The 1time Airline’s design has proven to be successful with 1time carrying its 10000th passenger a mere 20 days into operation and the 50000th on its 66th day of operation. The 100,000th passenger was carried on the 27th of June 2004 with a total of 392 750 passengers having been carried by the 05th of January 2005. Currently 48 000 passengers are carried every month by the four aircraft fleet.
The 1 Time Fleet:
Investing into a history of over 50 million hours of safe flying undertaken by DC9 and MD82 jets, 1time found true workhorses, which not only offered the passenger reliability and safety but also comfort whilst creating the basis for true low fare operations.
Operating three DC9-32 jets which fly up to 8 hours a day and two MD82 157-seater jets, the first of which went into service in December 2004, 1time proved that through safe but high utilization of such a fleet, the passenger was to win in all of the above mentioned aspects let alone a true saving on ground equipment. Renowned for ease of operation both the DC9 and the MD82 due to their low-set "floors" which offer a low ground clearance, create handling savings through the lack of need of operating heavy lifting equipment or elevated conveyor belts or for that matter loading platforms. Having reduced the seating arrangement to five across, from six across, as well as having increased the forward legroom, the all leather seats promise a degree of comfort lost in the eyes of some major operators and yet once again supplied by 1time at low cost.
On top of that…
1time also operates a very successful and well cared for "Call Center", which is designed to handle all queries, ticketing and all aspects of customer generated contact. As with most other low fare carriers, 1time has created partnerships with various other sectors offering low cost vehicle hire at any of their destinations as well as accommodation deals which allow the passenger a further venture into the world of low fare but not "cheap."
An airline, which is so well priced that, they cannot offer specials as their normal rates are already at the lowest possible offering.
With such business ideals, integrity and the spirit to fight aerial photography duels with our photography team, 1time is set to continue revolutionizing local air travel and who knows, maybe one day international travel too… "This I tjoon you straight!" (SA colloquialism for "this I tell you directly")
Gavin Harrison, Glenn Orsmond, Rodney James and Sven Petersen not just four individuals but rather a collection of aviation knowledge, entrepreneurial skills and a burning desire to breathe life into their latest aviation idea, which was not only well matured within their mental workshops but was also well aligned with the industrial requirements of the aviation industry at the time decided that the time had come to now go ahead with this ingeniously engineered aviation venture.
The concept of low cost carriers was not new to South Africa but every now and then in the industrial complexity that is aviation, someone, somewhere, has a clear and well defined idea that just has to work due to its innovative capability and ability to meet market requirements and desires.
Feeling that for too long the aviation industry had stagnated into current systems and the inherent limitations created thereby, the bold four decided to attack the market with a no-nonsense, no frills approach.
After the unfortunate happenings of 9/11, the worldwide airline industry suffered very serious economic setbacks seeing the advent of the low cost carrier, paving the way ahead for a majority of domestic and in some cases international carriers.
During this period the stronger than before Rand, opened new horizons for South African based carriers and it was during this period that 1time was to become a reality.
Not only did the economy of the time allow for such a concept but the SA aviation industry had long been over capitalized by market monopolies which saw the passenger having to deal with high-cost tickets, which in many cases reduced travel numbers yet balanced this lack through the high ticket prices at the time. This was the ideal time for a low fare concept to erupt onto the market.
With the bold four being the owners of Afrisource Holdings, an aviation holding company, which in turn owned Aeronexus, another aviation company that could provide both manpower and aircraft resources, the basis for the birth of 1time was present. Soon the necessary funding would be taken-up by various businessmen after the presentation of an effective and open business plan for the 1time idea. Through many of these investors, a full spread of airline executives, managers as well as IT resources were sourced which were essential to the running of the 1time airline.
With all of its guns loaded and ready to fire, 1time opened its Internet ticket sales "shop" as well as its Johannesburg and Cape Town International counters on the 22nd of January 2004. Operations within 1time commenced soon thereafter on the 25th of February 2004 with the first scheduled flights occurring with three return flights a day on the Johannesburg-Cape Town route. Today destinations have grown and the airline also serves the Durban and East London routes.
Why 1time?
"1time" or the phrase "one time" represents a South African colloquialism which means "for real." This coupled to the Airline’s slogan "Azikho lo nonsense" (no nonsense, or "no bull") further reflects the one Time Airline’s determination to offer the public an airline which promised safety, a serious approach but in the end basically said "Fly here, it is by far the best priced quality ticket you could find with no-nonsense attached to the deal…"
This statement also indicated the low fare business model, which was employed by the Airline. At the time, there was another operator in the country, which also operated as a low fare carrier but for a carrier to be fully represented in this category, that carrier should be formed on such a model as from its creation which put 1time on the map as South Africa’s first true no-nonsense, no frills, low cost carrier.
The then strengthening local economy coupled to the dropping aircraft values of the time following the 9/11 attacks, created the possibility of either purchasing or leasing a fleet at ideal rates which would allow for the establishment of an airline directly into the low cost model.
Some of the innovations included into daily operations included the following:
Ticket-less Air Travel through Internet bookings *
Onboard food and drink sales saving the passenger finances through choice *
Low fares are never subject to availability or restrictions but advertised, "As is" *
Low fares are advertised for every seat, on every flight, at any time, every day
The 1time Airline’s design has proven to be successful with 1time carrying its 10000th passenger a mere 20 days into operation and the 50000th on its 66th day of operation. The 100,000th passenger was carried on the 27th of June 2004 with a total of 392 750 passengers having been carried by the 05th of January 2005. Currently 48 000 passengers are carried every month by the four aircraft fleet.
The 1 Time Fleet:
Investing into a history of over 50 million hours of safe flying undertaken by DC9 and MD82 jets, 1time found true workhorses, which not only offered the passenger reliability and safety but also comfort whilst creating the basis for true low fare operations.
Operating three DC9-32 jets which fly up to 8 hours a day and two MD82 157-seater jets, the first of which went into service in December 2004, 1time proved that through safe but high utilization of such a fleet, the passenger was to win in all of the above mentioned aspects let alone a true saving on ground equipment. Renowned for ease of operation both the DC9 and the MD82 due to their low-set "floors" which offer a low ground clearance, create handling savings through the lack of need of operating heavy lifting equipment or elevated conveyor belts or for that matter loading platforms. Having reduced the seating arrangement to five across, from six across, as well as having increased the forward legroom, the all leather seats promise a degree of comfort lost in the eyes of some major operators and yet once again supplied by 1time at low cost.
On top of that…
1time also operates a very successful and well cared for "Call Center", which is designed to handle all queries, ticketing and all aspects of customer generated contact. As with most other low fare carriers, 1time has created partnerships with various other sectors offering low cost vehicle hire at any of their destinations as well as accommodation deals which allow the passenger a further venture into the world of low fare but not "cheap."
An airline, which is so well priced that, they cannot offer specials as their normal rates are already at the lowest possible offering.
With such business ideals, integrity and the spirit to fight aerial photography duels with our photography team, 1time is set to continue revolutionizing local air travel and who knows, maybe one day international travel too… "This I tjoon you straight!" (SA colloquialism for "this I tell you directly")
Labels: South Africa - Airlines
