FlySafair set to open new routes to Windhoek and Harare

News reaching BusinessTech Africa indicates that FlySafair is set to expand its regional route network.

The South African airline said it has planned new flight routes to Windhoek, Harare, and Zanzibar.

The low-cost airline announced on Monday that it had received permission from the International Air Services Council to fly commercial flights to these three destinations.

“Schedules for the new Windhoek and Harare routes are expected to be available by the third quarter of this year,” reports Fin24.

“The schedule for the route to Zanzibar is likely to be available by the second quarter of this year, thanks to an existing charter arrangement.

“Flysafair also received permission to offer five additional flights to Mauritius, potentially leading to daily flights to the island.”

This website has gathered that the airline will add three aircraft to its fleet before the end of March, to be used on the new routes.

FlySafair has become the dominant player in SA’s domestic market, with a market share of 60%. Pre-pandemic, it had about 25% of seat capacity.

Meanwhile, it is reported that the Department of Transport (DoT) says it has received no applications from Russian airline Nordwind for it to begin direct flights to South Africa. This is despite reports in Russian media about the plan.

Back last month, this website posted that South Africa’s ambassador in Russia, Mzuvukile Maqetuka, said that Nordwind could launch four direct flights a week to South Africa soon.

At the time, the Russian News Agency TASS also reported that Oleg Ozerov, head of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, mentioned plans for direct flights between Russia and South Africa.