Get to know about XL Novo Mundo Travel
The History behind XL Novo Mundo Travel
We indeed have such a commendable company right here in the midst of our XL Travel Group. Situated in a tree-lined street in the Johannesburg suburb of Bruma is XL Novo Mundo Travel, which celebrated its 40th year of proud existence in August 2012. Still heading up this very successful and intimate agency is 73-year-old Silverio da Silva, unquestionably one of the most solid citizens you may ever get to meet. This exemplary and wonderful man is solidity, sincerity and humility personified…and he is clearly blessed with a more than fair measure of business acumen too.
Silverio arrived in South Africa in the 1960s, “literally with the clothes I was wearing.” After a very tough start to life in a dead-end job here in Johannesburg, he spotted an opportunity…which was helping members of the Portuguese community to get flights back to Portugal. He started booking tickets for friends and was soon making good commissions from carriers like TAP (then referred to humorously as Take Another Plane), SABENA and other airlines then heading in that direction too.
Silverio started his business with one staff member to help him…and the rest is history. “In the beginning, I had the support of about 50% of the Portuguese community,” says Silverio, “but after three years that had already reached 90%. Even today, with all the competition and the Internet, we still enjoy a good 60% of our business from our Portuguese friends.”
Our Directors and Family
The close-knit family team that keeps the XL Novo Mundo team on course…founding director, Silverio da Silva (centre) and (from the left) his brother Carlos, and sons Paul, Michael and Ricky.
XL Novo Mundo…a proud family operation to the core!
XL Novo Mundo Travel – which means ‘New World’ – is situated in The Portuguese House in a leafy street in the Johannesburg suburb of Bruma. Here’s the proud team, all sparked up by the status of the company’s 50th year in August 2022 of trading in travel…and all doing their utmost to help take the company into the next decades.
All of this amazing work being overviewed by Silverio da Silva who is now in his 80’s
