PRIVATE domestic airline Comair is to spend R9-billion on eight new Boeing737MAXs.
The company said yesterday the move was part of fleet upgrades to ensure it had the most fuel-efficient planes.
The first of the Boeings will be delivered to the airline in 2019 and the last in 2021. The operator of British Airways' southern African flights and kulula.com has an option to purchase an additional eight aircraft if required.
Comair chief executive Erik Venter said the new jetliners would be 14% more fuel efficient than its current fleet of Boeing737800s.
Since the airline started with its fleet upgrade programme its new aircraft had delivered a 42% fuel saving per seat. In that time the airline had seen its cost base climb by 168% but had only increased its fares by 14%‚ Venter said.
Comair would consider its funding options for the new fleet closer to the time.
Venter said the upgrade was a fundamental part of a business strategy of consistently improving customer service and value while ensuring a sustainable airline‚ by minimising the effect of the fuel price on air fares. – BDlive