List of Airlines in South Africa – Local & International

Air transport is the fastest means of transportation in the world. It is also one of the most popular means of transportation due to the comfort and hospitality provided on air transport systems.

List of Top Airlines in South Africa

In South Arica, there are a good number of airlines which move in and out of the country. If you want to want to travel around the country, there are also a lot of airlines that offer such services, however, they only fly passengers to the main cities in South Africa.

airlines in south africa

In this article, we’re going to provide you with the List of Airlines in South Africa – Local & International.

1. Comair Airways

Comair Airways Limited is a leading South African aviation company that operates in several parts of South Africa and other African countries. It operates as a British Airways franchisee through which it offers its international flight services.

It domestic flight services are provided through its Kulula brand. Its domestic flight brand operates low-cost carriers making it one of the popular domestic airlines in South Africa.

Comair has codeshare agreements with the following airlines.

  • Air France
  • Cathay Pacific
  • Etihad Airways
  • Kenya Airways
  • KLM
  • Qatar Airways

2. SA Airlink

SA Airlink (Pty) Ltd or Airlink is a privately owned airline operating in South Africa. It operates mainly between small towns and large airports in South Africa and other African countries. These Africa countries include;

  • Botswana
  • Lesotho
  • Madagascar
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Swaziland
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

It operates in major South African cities like Cape Town, Durban, East London, and Johannesburg.

3. South African Express Airways

South African Express Airways is a state-owned airline that operates in South Africa and some other African countries. It operates in alliance with South African Airways which is the leading airline in South Africa.

The airline serves the following destinations in South Africa

  • Bloemfontein
  • Cape Town
  • Durban
  • Hoedspruit
  • Johannesburg
  • Kimberley
  • Richards Bay
  • Port Elizabeth

4. South African Airways

South African Airways is the major airline in South Africa. The airline flies to 56 destinations in South Africa and is in partnership with other South African airlines like SA Express, and SA Airlink. It also operates a low-cost carrier, Mango.

South African Airways has a fleet of 44 aircraft through which it offers its services.

5. Mango Airline

Mango Airline is a state-owned South African airline which offers low-cost transportation services to the general public. It is a subsidiary of South African Airways.

Its flight services are mostly served in South African destinations like Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, George, Johannesburg, and Port Elizabeth.

It also serves in other African countries like Tanzania.

6. Kulula

Kulula is a subsidiary of Comair. The airline offers low-cost transportation services to the public and operates on major domestic routes in South Africa. The airline began operations in 2001 and serves in the following destinations

  • Bloemfontein
  • Cape Town
  • Durban,
  • George
  • Johannesburg
  • Port Elizabeth

7. FlySafair

FlySafair is a subsidiary of Safair – one of the largest aviation companies in South Africa. It operates low-cost flights around South Africa. It is one of the most advanced airlines in the country and the first airline in South Africa to offer card payments aboard their flights.

FlySafair operates only in the popular cities of South Africa. It serves destinations in East London, Cape Town, George, Durban, Johannesburg, and Port Elizabeth.

It is one of the most awarded airlines in South Africa.

8. Global Airways

Global Airways is a South African airline that offers domestic and international flight services. It operates in Africa, Europe, South America, the Middle East, and the Caribbean.

9. Federal Air

Federal Air is a South African-based airline that operates in South Africa and other African countries. It serves destinations in the major cities of South Africa including some cities that are not operated by other major airlines in the country.

Below is the list of destinations it serves in South Africa.

  • Johannesburg
  • Hoedspruit
  • Nelspruit
  • Phinda
  • Pietermaritzburg
  • Sabi Sabi
  • Madikwe Game Reserve
  • Durban

10. CemAir

CemAir CemAir (Pty) Ltd operates in mainly popular tourist destinations and important business towns. It is also involved in the leasing of aircraft to other airlines across Africa and the Middle East.

The airline is currently non-operational as it was suspended by the South African aviation authorities due to the safety reasons.

Prior to its suspension, it served the following destinations

  • Bloemfontein
  • Cape Town
  • George
  • Hoedspruit
  • Johannesburg
  • Margate
  • Plettenberg Bay
  • Sishen
  • Richards Bay

11. British Airways

British Airways is a leading airline in Europe. It is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom with its headquarters at Waterside, Harmondsworth. It is one of the favorites of travelers going through international routes.

British Airways operates in several major cities in South Africa. Currently, it operates in Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg.

12. Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways is a top international airline operating in over 150 international destinations across, Africa, Europe, Far East, South Asia, North America, South America, Oceania, and Central Asia.

The airline offers domestic flights in several destinations in the major cities of South Africa. It also offers international flight services in and out of South Africa. It serves the following destinations in South Africa.

  • Cape Town
  • Durban
  • Johannesburg

13. Emirates

Emirates is the largest airline in the Middle East operating in more than 150 cities in 80 countries across the world. Currently, it the world’s fourth-largest airline in terms of international passengers carried.

It serves in the following destinations in South Africa

  • Cape Town
  • Durban
  • Johannesburg

14. Ethiopian Airlines

Ethiopian Airlines is the largest airline in Ethiopia. It is operated by the Ethiopian government and serves various international destinations all over the world. In South Africa, it operates in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

15. Delta Airlines

Delta Airlines is one of the leading airlines in the U.S. It is also one of the major airlines in the world. In South Africa, it only operates in Johannesburg.

16. Kenya Airways

Kenya Airways is the main airline in Kenya. It serves more than 50 destinations in 41 countries including South Africa. In South Africa, it operates in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

17. Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines is the major airline in Turkey. It serves more than 300 destinations in 122 countries all over the world. Currently, it is the largest carrier in the world by the number of passenger destinations.

Related Stuff