South African low-cost domestic airline Lift has collected two awards at the 2026 World Luxury Travel Awards, as its staff were named Best Cabin Crew in South Africa while the carrier won Best Domestic Airline in Africa.
The airline said that the recognition marks a proud moment for Lift and its people, particularly the crew on the ground and in the air, who it claimed bring the brand to life day after day.
“From the welcome onboard to the care shown throughout a journey, it is the people behind the experience who help make flying with Lift feel different,” the domestic carrier added.
The winners of the World Luxury Travel Awards are voted for by the public and awarded to travel establishments across a range of diverse categories.
Now in its 20th year, the awards are presented on a country, regional, continental and global level, and were announced following two gala ceremonies.
The first was held at the JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel in Bucharest, Romania, on 17 October, while the second was held at the Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok in Bangkok, Thailand, on 24 October.
Following the winners’ announcement, Haydn Halim-Henning, Brand Manager at Lift, said the awards are a celebration of the team and the elevated experience they create for passengers.
“We’re incredibly proud of these two awards, especially because they recognise both our people and what we offer our passengers,” he said.
“Our crew bring so much warmth and personality to every flight, and they’re a big part of what makes Lift special.”
Halim-Henning noted that every person on the team plays a role in creating welcoming experiences, adding that the airline is grateful to see its efforts recognised.
“For Lift, the double win is another reason to celebrate the people who make every journey possible and the role the airline plays in bringing South Africans closer to the people and places that matter,” said Lift.
Youngest Best Low Cost Airline in Africa winner
In 2024, Lift was named the Best Low Cost Airline in Africa at the World Airline Awards hosted by Skytrax, becoming the youngest airline to win the prestigious award.
At the time, Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax, congratulated the domestic carrier on being named the Best Low Cost Airline in Africa.
“This is a remarkable success for an airline that is less than four years old. This recognition of service and hospitality should be a source of pride for the management and staff of Lift,” he said.
Former Lift CEO Jonathan Ayache said the carrier was absolutely thrilled to receive its first-ever Skytrax Award, especially so soon after being founded.
“This is a testament to the amazing service our team provides, but also serves as recognition of the broader business model,” he said at the time.
“We are clearly making a mark by providing travellers with our elevated experience and industry-leading flexibility. Thank you to our amazing travellers for this vote of confidence.”
Lift’s Best Low Cost Airline in Africa Award followed two earlier awards in the same year, including the Best New Airline Brand, South Africa Award 2023 from Global Brands Magazine.
This award recognised Lift’s commitment to excellence and innovation in the aviation industry, and was followed by the Intelligent Aviation Implementation Award from Intelligent ICT Awards.
The second award celebrated the best of the IT industry and showcased the diverse and innovative ICT implementation projects within the various vertical and technology areas.
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