Investment

Like all other airlines, the high cost of aviation fuel and the declining value of foreign currencies against the US dollar have impacted on Interair's financial performance. "The hike in fuel prices has been a huge shock to all operators," says Tokoph.

'We are responding by rationalising our network and putting the right aircraft on the right route. For example, we have switched from the Boeing 707 to the 727 on some routes, and from the 727 to the 737 on others."

With his investment in Interair and the aircraft leasing sector, David Tokoph is probably one of the largest aviation entrepreneurs in Africa.

"Being a privately-owned company, we watch our expenses very closely," he says. "Our financial condition remains healthy, as our growth has been consistently positive over the past 36 months. Regarding funding, we rely on internal shareholders for this."

He adds: "We have invested approximately R50 million South African rands in Interair since September, 1997. As for a return on investment, we do not anticipate taking dividends for approximately five to seven years from when we became involved, as is the case with most airlines."

"Our Mission Statement is
 'We Try Harder'
 and we really mean it."

Interair's current routes are: 
Ndola, Zambia;Entebbe, Uganda; St Denis, Réunion Island; Antananarivo, Madagascar; Mahe, Seychelles; Libreville, Gabon; Douala, Cameroon; Brazzaville, Congo, and Moroni, Comoros.

Planned routes are: 
Lomé,Togo; Pointe Noire,Congo; Cotonou, Benin;Bamako, Mali; Abidjan '
Côte dIvoire,- Nairobi,Kenya, and Larnaca,Cyprus.