Kulula, a South African budget airline, has announced that it will stop flying to Maputo, the capital city of Mozambique, on January 17, 2012.

“The route from Lanseria (Johannesburg’s second airport) to Maputo, which became effective in May 2011, has proved to be commercially unviable for the airline,” spokeswoman Heidi Brauer said in a statement.

The airline said affected ticket-holders will either be refunded or booked on other airlines.

Kulula launched flights to Maputo last year in a bid to compete with South African Airways and Mozambican national airline LAM, the carriers that have long dominated the market.

South African budget airline 1Time also quit flying from Johannesburg to Maputo in 2011, just a year after launching flights on the route.

Waiting in long queues? So 2010. Thanks to kulula’s new online check-in service, the gateway to a hassle-free holiday is just a click of a mouse away. The low-fare airline’s convenient new offering allows travellers to print boarding passes in the comfort of their own home or office.

Self-printed boarding passes are accepted at most South African airports except Durbs, George and Nelspruit. kulula customers can select their preferred seat 24 hours prior to flight departure, with a cut-off time of two hours before departure. The online check-in service is only available for flight numbers with three digits (for example MN101).

kulula customers with a self-printed boarding pass may simply drop off their luggage at the ‘fast bag drop off’ airport counters located near the check-in counters. The luggage-free may proceed directly to security. It’s easy as that.

“kulula’s online check-in with the option of printing boarding passes at home or work means our customers can spend their time planning fabulous trips rather than waiting in queues. It’s a great way to start the New Year!” says Nadine Damen, kulula Marketing Manager.