South African Airways (SAA) plans to launch a new international flight between South Africa and Botswana.
The new service will commence on Tuesday, 4 November 2025, and bookings are now open.
The route will take passengers from O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg to Gaborone, making two trips per day.
The morning service departs Joburg at 06h35 and arrives in Gaborone at 07h35.
Return flights will then leave Botswana at 08h25 and arrive in South Africa at 09h25.
A second afternoon flight will leave O.R Tambo at 16h40 and arrive at 17h40.
It will leave Gaborone at 18h30 and arrive back in Joburg at 19h30.
Considering that the flight is only an hour long, the international flight is actually shorter than many domestic options in South Africa.
Cape Town to Johannesburg takes two hours, and Johannesburg to Durban takes roughly an hour and 15 minutes.
SAA stated that the new route will help to expand the airline’s regional coverage.
“The launch of this route not only strengthens the cultural and economic ties between Botswana and South Africa but also reinforces SAA’s position as a premium network carrier, said CEO John Lamola.
“SAA remains focused on expanding its footprint across the continent, delivering reliable, customer-centric service.”
“The addition of Gaborone to our network is a clear demonstration of our dedication to supporting regional integration, tourism, and inclusive economic growth.”
More new flights for South Africa
In addition to the new Botswana route, SAA plans to launch its first-ever direct service to the popular holiday destination of Mauritius.
The Australian air carrier Qantas is also set to introduce a new route between Joburg and Perth, making it easier to catch connecting flights to other locations in the Land Down Under like Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide.
Air France is reintroducing a direct flight from Cape Town to Paris this summer (from 15 December 2025 to 12 January 2026) in anticipation of holiday demand.
Local airlines are also expanding their options, as FlySafair recently announced a new flight connecting Cape Town to Hoedspruit in Limpopo.
Flights will operate thrice a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, with the first flight departing on 2 October 2025.
The group said the flight will enhance access to the central Kruger region and the wider Limpopo province and complement the existing route to Mbombela, Mpumalanga.
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