Kulula

Kulula is a domestic airline company in South Africa, and their marketing campaigns are the perfect example of South African humor.

Here are some of the paint jobs on their fleet.

Flying 101
Note the political barbs: "back door (no bribery/corruption here)"

In support of Movember (an annual, month-long event involving the growing of moustaches
during the month of November to raise awareness of prostate cancer)

This Way Up (thank goodness)

Zippy Plane - "taking off"

 

Camoplane - "no one saw us coming"

Their advertising is also usually very topical.  Upon the announcement of the royal wedding between Will and Kate, Kulula offered to pay the lobola - a southern African tradition of the groom paying a bride price, usually in cattle.  They figured Will had enough to worry about leading up to the wedding.  People were encouraged to visit Kulula's website and vote on what size herd seemed appropriate.  Here is the letter they sent to Prince William, followed by the response they got:

Leading up to the World Cup, the international soccer competition held in South Africa in 2010, Kulula ran commercials calling themselves the "Unofficial National Carrier of the You-Know-What." They used pictures of stadiums, vuvuzelas and national flags. But Fifa (the Fédération Internationale de Football Association) said the airline could not use the symbols - even the words "South Africa" according to kulula.com's spokeswoman. Fifa countered that it was the combination of symbols that is not allowed. In response to Fifa's accusations of ambush marketing and legal action, Kulula trademarked the Sky™. Here are some snippets from their published document of how to avoid trademark infringements.

Unfortunately the South African soccer team lost early on the World Cup competition and immediately following the game Kulula gave out these packs of tissues on all their flights:

 

On the weekend that the current South African president, Jacob Zuma, married his fourth wife (he proudly follows Zulu traditions and polygamy is allowed, although what it costs tax payers to maintain each wife's house and raise his many children is a cause of controversy), Kulula came out with this special offer:

Zuma's wives love their elaborate hats

Other examples of their tongue-in-cheek humor:

A recent "official ridiculously posh new boeing launch" the company held

Kulula's billboards will also have you in hysterics

Another brilliant billboard

Tourists
Awesome to teach Afrikaans swear words to.

Also well documented are some of the in-flight announcements that have been heard on Kulula flights.  Here are a few of my favorites:

• "Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached cruising altitude and will be turning down the cabin lights. This is for your comfort and to enhance the appearance of your flight attendants."
• "To operate your seat belt, insert the metal tab into the buckle, and pull the belt tight. It works just like every other seat belt and, if you don't know how to operate one by now, then you probably shouldn't be allowed out in public unsupervised."
• "Your seat cushions can be used for flotation.  In the event of an emergency water landing, please use them to paddle to shore and take them with our compliments."
• "Ladies and gentlemen, we have landed in Cape Town. Please take all your possessions. Anything left behind will be shared equally between staff. Please note we do not accept unwanted in-laws or children."
• "Thank you. And remember, nobody loves you, and your money, more than Kulula Airlines."
• "We'd like to thank you folks for flying with us today. And, the next time you get the insane urge to go blasting through the skies in a pressurized metal tube, we hope you'll think of Kulula Airways."
• "Thank you for flying Kulula. We hope you enjoyed giving us the business as much as we enjoyed taking you for a ride."

So, are you looking foward to our Kulula flight??