The inaugural flight of new Durban low-cost airline Velvet Sky touched down at King Shaka International Airport on Tuesday.
Flight VZ001 departed from Joburg’s OR Tambo International Airport and arrived in Durban at about 11.25am to be welcomed with water cannons forming a ceremonial “water curtain” as it taxied towards the terminal.
The Boeing 737-300 aircraft had 50 guests on board, including Velvet Sky chairman Cecil Reddy and underprivileged students from the Ikusasa School of Cooking.
Waiting on the tarmac to greet them were Velvet Sky chief executive Dhevan Pillay, eThekwini councillor Fawzia Peer, media and other officials.
Pillay said it was a wonderful moment to see the plane touch down at King Shaka International Airport.
“Watching the plane in the Velvet Sky colours land was surreal. It was a dream come true and represents the culmination of more than three years of hard work,” he said.
Reddy, who named the aircraft with a bottle of champagne, said the airline’s inaugural flight had been even more special with the hosting of students from Ikusasa.
“None of the students had been on a plane before, and we thought that the first flight was an ideal opportunity for them to experience the excitement of air travel,” he said.
King Shaka Airport general manager Terence Delomoney said the Airports Company of SA was proud to welcome Velvet Sky to Durban and the new airport.
“It is historic and exciting to have the first Durban-based domestic airline and operating out of King Shaka Airport. It is clearly evident that our new airport has become a major catalyst for economic growth in KZN,” he said.
Velvet Sky’s first commercial flight departed from Durban to Joburg at 5.55pm on Tuesday. Pillay said the airline’s first flight to Cape Town would take off on Thursday. - The Mercury