Aviation company FlySafair and national cricket governing body Cricket South Africa (CSA) on November 4 unveiled the newly completed Proteas-themed aircraft livery, marking another step in the three-year partnership between the two entities.

The new Proteas-branded Boeing 737-800 will take to the skies on November 5, and would serve the airline’s domestic routes.

The branding transpired from an open, nationwide design competition for the plane, as part of FlySafair’s aspiration to connect with South Africans, leveraging their love of sport to include them in the partnership, FlySafair chief marketing officer Kirby Gordon explained at the launch.

“The input we received showcased South Africa’s passion for cricket,” he acclaimed. Close to 500 entries were received.

The winning design was by Dinika Naidu.

Hailing from Gqeberha, she is a self-taught graphic designer, currently studying at the Nelson Mandela University.

Speaking to Engineering News on the sidelines of the launch, Naidu explained that, with her design, she sought to encapsulate the partnership between FlySafair and CSA, with it incorporating features and colours from both entities.

It is intended to be “simplistic, but impactful”, she added.

The design shows a cricket batter’s silhouette, done in the green and gold CSA colours. The batter is depicted inside of an unfurling Protea flower, done in the pink, light blue and navy FlySafair colours.

This is flanked on either side by each company’s logo.

The tail of the plane also features stripes encompassing both partners’ colours.

Further to the plane featuring her design, Naidu won R10 000 in flight vouchers and tickets to watch the Proteas live during the 2025/26 summer series.

In November last year, FlySafair signed an agreement with CSA to be the official domestic carrier for the Proteas, for a three-year period.

Gordon welcomed the launch as a milestone for the partnership, noting that it is just the start, with much more to come, culminating in South Africa’s co-hosting of the 2027 Men's Cricket World Cup with Zimbabwe and Namibia.

With both Proteas men's and women's teams playing domestically this summer, FlySafair and CSA have planned fan activations throughout the season, building momentum towards the World Cup.

CSA chief commercial officer Mtunzi Jonas pointed out that FlySafair would play an integral role in the logistics of the tournament, including ferrying fans across the country.

He also highlighted the significance of the upcoming tournament for South Africa, as it would be CSA’s first time hosting it since 2003, and the biggest event hosted in the country since the 2010 Men's Soccer World Cup.

The Proteas' cricketers also welcomed the newly-branded aircraft.

Proteas Men international cricketer Ryan Rickelton was positive about the partnership over the past year, saying it was good to be associated with a strong brand and “leading airline”. He lauded the design as being noticeable both on the ground and when airborne.

Gordon and Jonas both also emphasised the importance of ensuring gender parity in the partnership, which supports both the Proteas women's and men's team.

Moreover, Jonas indicated the partnership benefits across the board, with support ranging from the top team, to the ground staff and those at a grassroots level.