Papers report on bold new 'Gauplane' plan
Johannesburg, South Africa
01 April 2007 08:30
The Gautrain project fell victim to April Fool's Day in two Sunday newspapers. The Sunday Times reported in its Business Times section that low budget airline Kulula.com had announced a bold plan to take on the Gautrain by launching a flight service between Pretoria, Sandton and OR Tambo International Airport.
It reported that the flight duration between the three points would be only six minutes and that flights -- using 100-seater jets -- would depart every 15 minutes. The airline also planned to undercut Gautrain rates by between 30% and 40%. "All the hype around the Gautrain really got us thinking and we've come up with a plan to do it quick and cheaper," the report quoted Kulula's joint chief executive Gidon Novick as saying.
The report, written by "Aprile Fule", added that the public would be called upon to suggest names for the new service. Some suggestions so far included "Gauplane", "Op-en-af" and "The no-gravy plane".
City Press reported on its front page that Nelson Mandela's house, the multimillion-rand newly-opened Jabulani Mall and the Hector Pietersen memorial site would have to be demolished to make way for the Gautrain.
The report read that there had been international calls for the Gautrain to be extended into Soweto for the 2010 World Cup.The route through Vilikazi Street would mean that the Hector Pietersen Memorial would have to be moved a few paces sideways or be scaled down to a simple plaque. - Sapa
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