The inaugural flight from Johannesburg to Durban took off from OR Tambo International at 6:00 am on 26 October 2022, marking LIFT’s much-awaited expansion into KwaZulu Natal.
Passengers flying on LIFT to Durban for the first time were all smiles and cheered as they boarded the aircraft about to embark on this historical flight – taking pictures to share this momentous occasion on their social networks.
To celebrate this first, the airline was greeted by a water cannon salute as it landed at King Shaka International Airport. Zulu and Indian dancers performed a combined, synchronised and choreographed dance performance showcasing the province’s rich Zulu and Indian cultures to the delight of disembarking passengers. This was followed by a media conference including key stakeholders such as the Mayor of eThekwini Municipality, Tourism KwaZulu-Natal, Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs and Dube TradePort.
“It’s no secret that Durban has had its fair share of struggle over the past two years and we are just so proud and happy to play a small part in bringing back travel and tourism to such a deserving city. Durban is one of the most common requests we receive on social media and has been on our radar for a while and for that, we couldn’t be more excited,” said CEO and co-founder of LIFT Jonathan Ayache.
“We’ve also grown our fleet and have two more aircraft arriving this year. This growth in our fleet and new routes will create more than 100 new jobs before the end of the year,” added Ayache.
LIFT has moved almost 1 million people across South Africa to date and looks forward to getting more people into KZN to experience its brilliance.
Travelers to or from Durban can now look forward to all the perks flying LIFT has to offer. These include complimentary snacks, coffee from Vida e Cafe, extra-friendly service from the stylish cabin crew and flexible flight changes with unlimited penalty-free changes, no cancellation fees, and quick and easy refunds into your LIFT wallet. LIFT also offers selected dog-friendly flights making travel with your fur baby a breeze.
LIFT also has a business-class product called ‘LIFT Premium’ offering industry-leading legroom and more spacious seating. Premium passengers also enjoy an elevated snack and drinks offering, priority boarding, fast-track security, priority support, a dedicated check-in area and lounge access.
To book your flight visit lift.co.za
