LIFT Airline turns 3 - What led to its success?

Loading player...
GUEST - LIFT CEO Jonathan Ayache



Johannesburg-based domestic carrier LIFT is preparing to celebrate its third birthday on December 10, 2023. The airline is looking back on a tremendous three years, which have seen it achieve several milestones to become a prominent player in South Africa's domestic aviation market. The establishment of LIFT was an incredible feat on its own. The airline was founded in October 2020 and took to the skies just 90 days later during what was known as the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. With strict lockdown restrictions in South Africa and significantly low travel demand, there were many doubts about whether the company would survive.
11 Dec 2023 4PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

Southern Africa sees Private Capital's Big Comeback

Private capital is making a strong comeback. Fundraising in Southern Africa surged by 162%, making 2025 one of the strongest years on record. Anusha Naidu, CEO of SAVCA, unpacks what's driving renewed investor interest, where capital is being deployed, the sectors attracting attention, and what private equity investors are telling…
29 Oct 1PM 12 min

Investing In Women: Business Strategy Or Box-Ticking?

Corporate South Africa has spent years talking about diversity and transformation, but is enough being done to build the next generation of women leaders? Pride Mnene Hlungwani, marketing and transformation leader at bp South Africa, explains why leadership development matters, the economic case for investing in women, and how businesses…
29 Oct 1PM 30 min

Africa's Resilience Dividend: Where Smart Money Is Heading

What makes an African economy investable in today's uncertain world? Precious Dube, Macroeconomist for Broader Africa at RMB, unpacks the bank's latest Where to Invest in Africa 2026/27 report. From Morocco's rise and South Africa's resilience to the growing importance of policy reform, institutional strength and economic stability, we explore…
29 Oct 12PM 17 min

How South Africans Are Stretching Every Rand

South Africans are increasingly living two very different financial realities. New research from NielsenIQ reveals a growing consumer divide, with almost equal numbers reporting that they're either financially worse off or better off than a year ago. As inflation, food prices and household costs continue to bite, consumers are changing…
28 Oct 1PM 13 min

ECIC at 25: Reimagining South Africa's Export Future

As the Export Credit Insurance Corporation of South Africa (ECIC) marks 25 years of supporting exporters, newly appointed CEO Linda Seroka joins Kaya Biz to outline the institution's future vision. From supporting emerging exporters and SMMEs to exploring new trade opportunities in Asia and the Middle East, the discussion examines…
28 Oct 1PM 13 min