FlySafair is planning to greatly expand its operations with numerous new flights across domestic and international routes.
This is according to FlySafair Chief Marketing Officer Kirby Gordon, who recently spoke at a media roundtable, announcing that the company is looking to feature new international flights.
He said that the air carrier is considering adding a new flight from Johannesburg to Windhoek in Namibia, given that it already operates a route between Windhoek and Cape Town.
It also wants to add new flights to its route to Harare in Zimbabwe, which has proven to be very popular with around 8,000 seats per week.
FlySafair is also looking at other African capital cities, such as Lusaka in Zambia, or Nairobi in Kenya, though Gordon explained that the latter is very competitive.
Regarding South Africa, he noted that the upcoming Cape Winelands Airport in the Western Cape is very attractive for the airline.
Gordon said that the R8 billion airport is making good progress on environmental factors, but that the site is still a few years away from being operational.
He explained that the new airport will be a game-changer for the local aviation industry, particularly with regards to flight diversions and costs.
Aircraft are required to carry additional fuel for a diversion from the route. Right now, long-haul flights are diverted to Joburg or Durban if they can’t land at Cape Town.
Since planes have to carry additional fuel for the diverted route, they also carry extra weight, which means they end up burning more fuel as a result.
The new Cape Winelands Airport will therefore serve as a cheaper alternative to long-haul flights meant for Cape Town International.
The airport will also receive a retainer from airlines in the event of a diversion, meaning it will still earn revenue even if the plane doesn’t land on its runway.
The Cape Winelands site is expected to serve a growing part of South Africa, as Gordon noted that Bellville’s GDP is larger than Namibia’s.
He admitted that there are limits to how much FlySafair can expand its operations, as the airline cannot offer routes that do not include South Africa.
It therefore cannot operate flights between two international destinations, such as a Harare-Windhoek route.
Additionally, while FlySafair is set to be acquired by Harith Aviation, pending approval from the Reserve Bank and the Competition Tribunal, Gordon said the airline itself will not see a huge influx of cash.
He explained that Harith is a value investor and will look to benefit from FlySafair’s continued operations in South Africa.
FlySafair is scheduled to receive a shipment of Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in 2028; however, these aircraft were ordered before the Harith deal was announced.
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