The idea for the airline came out of discussion of two second world war pilots based in Egypt, J.M.S. Martin and A.L. Zoubert, they gained another partner Leon Zimmerman and Commercial Air Services was formed in 1943 on their return to South Africa. The company began charter operations on 15 June 1946 using Fairchild F-24 Argus aircraft. Scheduled services between Rand Airport, Johannesburg and Durban began on 1 July 1948, using a Cessna 195. In 1978, Donald Novick negotiated a management buyout of Comair's aviation assets. A lengthy legal battle ensued between Novick and the Pickard Group. On 5 June 1978, Justice George Colman rendered a 291-page document in favour of Novick. In doing so, Colman established 12 precedents in South African corporate law; the litigation is now considered to be a landmark case. When Novick joined Comair in 1961, the company had some 50 employees and operated two Douglas DC-3 aircraft. Under his direction, the company expanded its fleet into jet aircraft after the de-regulation of South African airline routes in 1991, and today
Corporate affairs
Ownership and structure
Comair Limited is a public company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange that operates scheduled and non-scheduled airline services under both its low-fare airline brand, kulula.com, and under the British Airways brand, as part of a licence agreement with British Airways PLC. The group also has a number of subsidiary activities, including:
Comair Catering Proprietary Limited, trading under the Food Directions brand, that provides on-board catering and retail services to the group’s flights, and health and other food products to South African retailers.
Comair also has a 56% shareholding in The Highly Nutritious Food Company Proprietary Limited, trading as Eatrite, that distributes its products to retailers in South Africa.
Business trends
The key trends for the Comair group are shown below, as at years ending 30 June:
On 1 March 1988, Comair Flight 206, an Embraer 110 Bandeirante, crashed in Johannesburg, killing all 17 occupants. One source suggests that this incident was caused by an explosive device, carried by a passenger employed as a mineworker who had recently taken out a substantial insurance policy.
On 26 October 2015, Comair flight BA6234, a Boeing 737-400operated by Comair on behalf of British Airways, crashed and was damaged beyond repair at OR Tambo International Airport. The crashed was suspected to be caused by an early flare and fast touch down causing the left landing gear to collapse. No persons on board were killed or injured
