FlySafair launching new flight in South Africa

Low-cost carrier FlySafair has announced a new flight route connecting Cape Town to Hoedspruit.

The group said that the flight will enhance access to the central Kruger region and the wider Limpopo province, complementing the existing route to Mbombela.

The region is a popular tourist destination for various safaris and tours, with the new route also expected to expand general domestic connectivity.

Hoedspruit, located near the central Kruger and bordering Limpopo, is surrounded by private game reserves.

Mbombela, the capital of Mpumalanga, also serves as a key entry point to the southern Kruger region.

The new route will operate as follows:

• Cape Town to Hoedspruit: Flights will operate three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, with the first flight departing on 2 October 2025.

The airline said that fares will start from R1,570 one way, subject to availability, timing, and other factors that influence pricing.

Ticket sales for the route are opening in July, it said.

In addition to the new route, FlySafair said it is also increasing the frequency of its Cape Town to Mbombela service, which will now operate daily.

“Hoedspruit is a gateway to the Kruger National Park and surrounding private reserves, and we’re proud to offer travellers a more affordable and convenient way to reach this incredible region,” said Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer at FlySafair.

“Together, these routes provide direct access to two of South Africa’s most beloved safari destinations,” it said.

The group said that the new flight forms part of its ongoing efforts to expand its network and improve domestic connectivity.

The local domestic airline industry suffered significant blows during the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, which restricted all travel.

Airlines were hammered by the near-complete stop in travel, resulting in major groups like Kalula operator Comair shutting down, and state-backed airlines like Mango being grounded.

The sector has recovered in the years since the end of the pandemic, but the market is still under pressure from higher ticket costs and more limited options.

International flights also returning

In addition to FlySafair’s new flight connecting popular tourism destinations, South Africa will also see new international flights this year, taking advantage of holiday seasons.

Australian airline Qantas announced in May that it will reintroduce its route between Johannesburg and Perth later this year, with direct flights taking off in December 2025.

Qantas said that the new flights will provide South Africans with direct access to Perth, with easy connections to Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide via the carrier’s Australian network.

Customers will also have access to a new one-stop option to New Zealand, with the airline also introducing a direct flight between Perth and Auckland from December.

Air France, meanwhile, is returning its seasonal direct flight between Cape Town and Paris for the upcoming summer season.

From 15 December 2025 to 12 January 2026, Air France will operate daily nonstop flights between Cape Town and Paris, just in time for South Africa’s summer season and Europe’s peak holiday period.

With KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Air France-KLM will offer up to 18 weekly flights to Cape Town and 32 flights per week to South Africa.

The new flight will open over 11,000 seats in each direction every week.