Mohahlaula Airlines, a Lesotho-based air carrier, recently announced their intention to launch a new local Lesotho airline.
Lesotho to South Africa
Mohahlaula Airlines’ new plan to help renew and boost socio-economic growth in Lesotho will see the carrier launch a brand new local airline next year. The new operation will, at first, service the Maseru-Johannesburg route with plans to extend to other destinations within South Africa soon after.
Phafane Nkotsi, CEO at Mohahlaula, said that they were indeed thrilled to announce their intention to launch Mohahlaula Airlines over the next year or so. He said that the service was something that Lesotho desperately needed, as the country continued to grow economically and tourism was picking up after the pandemic.
“We are looking forward to playing an essential role in driving Lesotho’s socio-economic growth,” Nkotsi said.
According to Travel News, Mohahlaula Airlines is one of only two Lesotho companies with an airline operating certificate, something which allows them to apply for and operate a fully-qualified local airline from the country’s capital, Maseru. Over the past two years and through the pandemic, Mohahlaula has only been doing private charter and cargo flights in and out of Maseru.
ALSO READ: Airlink to launch direct Cape Town to Maputo flights
Creating employment opportunities
Nkotsi claimed that the new airline will also do well to create local employment opportunities in Lesotho.
According to him, Mohahlaula is a ‘local first’ airline, which means that they would not only connect locals to business and leisure opportunities outside of Lesotho, but would open up employment opportunities for locals wanting to get into aviation as well. The airline is also planning to launch an Aviation Training Organisation at the beginning of 2023 to assist with that.
The carrier is planning to utilize three Embraer 145 aircrafts for the operation, which are able to carry 45-50 passengers per flight.
ALSO READ: United and Delta thrice-weekly flights are now a go