1time Airline (Pty) Ltd commonly called 1time was a South African low-cost airline that operated between 2004 and 2012. Based in the Isando Industrial Park in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng,1time operated scheduled domestic and regional services. Its main base was OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg. The name of the company, "one time!", is a South African expression meaning "for real!".
In November 2012 the airline went into liquidation, and ceased operations. Despite various initiatives, including those of the liquidator, operations remain suspended.
Early history
The founders owned an aviation holding company, Afrisource Holdings, through which they owned Aeronexus, an aviation company that offered various aircraft services (and performed maintenance for 1time).
1time itself commenced ticket sales in January 2004, and started flying on 25 February 2004, with three daily return flights between OR Tambo International Airport and Cape Town International Airport.
The Avstar Group acquired a 15% shareholding in 1time Holdings, and under the deal the airline leased two additional 157-seat McDonnell Douglas MD-83 aircraft from the Group. In 2006 1time carried over a million passengers on services to eight destinations.
The airline was owned by Afrisource Holdings (50%), MKJH Trust (30%) and Mogwele Investments (20%) and had 420 employees (at March 2007).
1time Holdings made an IPO on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE) on 14 August 2007.
