South African aircraft lessor Safair is to launch a new low-cost carrier in the domestic market next month.

Dubbed FlySafair, the airline will offer up to 10 daily flights between Johannesburg and Cape Town utilising two Boeing 737-400s. Tickets will be onsale in September, and the carrier will be fully operational in the fourth quarter.

FlySafair says it plans to add further domestic destinations. It will be based at OR Tambo Internatonal airport.

Safair's chief executive Dave Andrew will also head up the new airline.

Innovata schedules data shows the Johannesburg-Cape Town route to be hotly contested, with Comair, Lufthansa, Mango and South African Airways among the carriers operating in the market.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news