CSA and FlySafair unveil Proteas livery designed by 22-year-old student

Cricket South Africa (CSA) and FlySafair on Tuesday unveiled a bold new aircraft livery celebrating their partnership, featuring a design created by 22-year-old Gqeberha student Dinika Naidu.

The reveal took place at FlySafair’s Johannesburg hangar, marking one year since the airline became the Official Domestic Airline Partner of the Proteas.

The livery was selected from hundreds of entries in a nationwide competition launched when the three-year sponsorship was announced in November 2024.

Naidu's winning design features elegant calligraphic lines and colours that evoke both the protea flower and FlySafair's iconic branding, symbolising the unity between South Africa's national cricket teams and the country's leading low-cost carrier.

Flying high with the Protea spirit! 🇿🇦✈️ Our airplane’s stunning new livery is a true work of art, showcasing our pride and support for the Proteas #proteas #flysafairza #fortheloveofflying pic.twitter.com/BQtANzAdiN

— FlySafair (@FlySafair) November 5, 2025

"We're thrilled to celebrate this milestone with FlySafair," said Mtunzi Jonas, Chief Commercial Officer at CSA.

"This partnership is about more than logistics, it's about unity, excellence, and connecting South African cricket fans around the country. Having a young South African designer play such a central role in this story makes it even more significant.”

"This past year has been absolutely incredible," said Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer at FlySafair.

"When we partnered with Cricket SA, we wanted to do something uniquely South African, something that gave fans a real stake in the journey. Dinika's design captures that spirit beautifully, and we're proud to have it flying across the country."

Naidu, a self-taught graphic designer and student at Nelson Mandela University, funds her studies through freelance work. Seeing her creation come to life has been a surreal experience.

"I don't think there are words to describe how excited I am," Naidu said. "As a young designer, you dream about moments like this, but you never expect them to happen. I'm so grateful to FlySafair and Cricket South Africa for this opportunity, it really feels like I've made it."

Naidu intentionally kept the visual elements "simple but impactful," ensuring the livery communicates the collaboration instantly.

The Protea-liveried aircraft will serve FlySafair's domestic routes, ensuring visibility at airports nationwide.