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Southern Africa's longest-serving private airline.
Founded
1946
Headquarters
Johannesburg, South Africa
Comair Limited was a South African airline headquartered in Johannesburg, operating scheduled passenger services primarily under the British Airways brand in South Africa through a long-standing licence agreement with British Airways plc. The airline also operated the low-cost carrier kulula.com, which became one of South Africa's most recognized budget airlines known for its humorous branding and accessible fares.
Founded in 1946, Comair was one of the oldest and most established private carriers in South Africa, surviving decades of competition and regulatory change. The airline ceased operations in June 2022 after entering business rescue proceedings, a process exacerbated by the severe financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the aviation industry.
At its peak, Comair operated a fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft serving major domestic routes within South Africa as well as select regional destinations. Its dual-brand strategy allowed it to serve both full-service and budget-conscious passengers simultaneously.
Hubs & network
Comair's primary hub was OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, with secondary operations at Cape Town International Airport.
Fleet
Comair operated an all-Boeing 737 fleet, including variants such as the 737-400 and 737-800, across both its British Airways and kulula.com brands.
Notable facts
- ›Comair held a licence to operate British Airways-branded flights within southern Africa for several decades.
- ›The airline founded kulula.com in 2001, one of South Africa's first low-cost carriers.
- ›Comair entered business rescue in May 2020 due to COVID-19 impacts, briefly resumed operations, then permanently ceased flying in June 2022.
- ›Comair was listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) for many years.
- ›At its height, Comair carried millions of passengers annually and was a dominant force in South African domestic aviation.
This profile is provided for general information only. Contact details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airline's official website before acting on them.
