5 new international flights coming to South Africa by the end of 2024

Several local and international airlines are increasing the number of flights in and out of South Africa, with four new routes set to launch by the end of the year.

These include:

• Paris to Cape Town via Air France from 7 October
• Gaborone and Durban via Air Botswana from 11 October
• Windhoek and Cape Town via FlySafair from 22 October
• London Gatwick and Cape Town via Norse Atlantic from 28 October
• Munich and Cape Town via Lufthansa from November

Low-cost airline Norse Atlantic Airways will start operating a flight between London Gatwick and Cape Town. Three weekly flights between London and Cape Town will start from 28 October.

Air France has also announced the return of its seasonal flight between Cape Town International Airport and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport starting from 7 October 2024.

“In response to strong demand from business and leisure travellers, the airline will operate three weekly flights, with an additional flight scheduled to be added from November, just in time for the busy holiday season,” said Air France.

German Airline Lufthansa is also returning its seasonal direct route between Munich and Cape Town, which will start flying in November.

Lufthansa relaunched its year-long direct flight between Johannesburg and Munich last month.

Looking to South Africa’s neighbours, Air Botswana will start operating a flight between Gaborone and Durban on 11 October 2024. The airline will operate the route three times a week: on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

FlySafair will also launch its first international route between Cape Town and Windhoek, Namibia. The new route offers two weekly flights on Tuesdays and Saturdays, with the first flight scheduled to take off on 22 October 2024. 

On top of the new routes, several airlines are increasing the number of flights on their pre-existing routes.

South African Airways (SAA) will increase the number of flights between Johannesburg and Perth to four weekly flights from 8 December 2024, having launched the route in April 2024.

SAA will also increase the number of flights between Johannesburg and Harare from 10 to 12 per week.

Moreover, British Airways will increase the flight frequency between Cape Town and London Heathrow for the upcoming summer (November 2024 to March 2025).

The airline, which currently offers a daily service from London Heathrow, will add an additional daily service on 11 January 2025, bringing the total weekly flights for the carrier’s London Heathrow service up to 21.

The British Airways Cape Town-Heathrow route will replace the carrier’s three-weekly seasonal service from London Gatwick, which will now only operate between 14 December 2024 and 8 January 2025.

“Air connectivity between South Africa and the United Kingdom is a crucial link, fostering strong economic, cultural, and tourism ties between the two nations,” said Airports Company South Africa (ACSA).

“British Airways operates two daily flights, and Virgin Atlantic operates one daily flight between O.R. Tambo International Airport and London Heathrow.”

Keep an eye out for next year

There are also several new routes planned by airlines for 2025.

Australian national carrier Qantas plans to relaunch flights from Johannesburg to Perth in mid-2025, subject to meeting border agency requirements in Western Australia.

Airlink has also been given authorization for a direct flight from Cape Town to Gaborone, which is planned to commence on 1 April 2025.

“ACSA is actively developing new flight route opportunities to enhance connectivity between our sister countries on the continent and worldwide,” said the state-owned company.

“These will propel the company’s efforts to accelerate recovery to pre-COVID-19 levels and enhance regional integration, providing greater convenience and flexibility for travellers.”

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