Johannesburg, 5 November 2025 A 22-year-old design student from Gqeberha has seen her creative work soar to new heights after FlySafair unveiled an aircraft featuring her Protea-inspired design.
Dinika Naidu, a self-taught graphic designer and student at Nelson Mandela University, was announced as the winner of a national competition hosted by FlySafair and Cricket South Africa (CSA). Her artwork now adorns one of the airline’s aircraft, symbolising pride, unity, and South African sporting excellence.
The design reveal took place at FlySafair’s Johannesburg hangar this week, marking one year since the airline became the Official Domestic Airline Partner of the Proteas.
Naidu’s entry was selected from hundreds of submissions for its clean, flowing lines that merge FlySafair’s distinctive colours with the national flower, the Protea. The artwork also subtly incorporates the image of a cricket player, representing teamwork and movement.
“As a young designer, you dream about opportunities like this, but you never expect them to happen,” said Naidu. “Seeing my design on an actual plane is unbelievable. I’m so grateful to FlySafair and Cricket SA for believing in young talent.” FlySafair’s Chief Marketing Officer Kirby Gordon said the project was about connecting fans to the national team in a creative way.
“Dinika’s design captures the South African spirit bold, bright, and full of energy. We’re proud to showcase her talent as part of our partnership with Cricket South Africa,” he said.Cricket SA’s Chief Commercial Officer Mtunzi Jonas praised the collaboration as a celebration of unity and national pride.
“Having a young South African play such a key role in this milestone makes it even more meaningful,” Jonas said. The partnership between FlySafair and CSA has already produced memorable moments from flying the ICC Test World Cup trophy across the country to supporting both men’s and women’s teams in their international campaigns.
The Protea-themed aircraft will now operate on FlySafair’s domestic routes, taking Naidu’s design and the spirit of South African cricket to airports nationwide.
