FlySafair

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FlySafair
IATA ICAO Callsign
FA SFR SAFAIR
FoundedAugust 2013
Commenced operations16 October 2014; 9 years ago (2014-10-16)[1]
Hubs
Fleet size34
Destinations15
Parent companySafair Operations (Pty) Ltd
HeadquartersJohannesburg, South Africa
Key peopleElmar Conradie (CEO)
ProfitIncrease R500 million
EmployeesIncrease 1,300 (June 2022)[2][failed verification]
Websiteflysafair.co.za

FlySafair is an international low-cost airline based in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is a subsidiary of Safair and flies to 15 destinations in Sub-Saharan Africa. The company slogan is For The Love Of Flying.

History[edit]

The airline was established in August 2013 and was granted approval by the South African Air Service Licensing Council to launch operations with ten daily services between Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport and Cape Town International Airport.[3] The airline had plans to begin operations in October 2013.[4] However, on 8 October 2013, the High Court of South Africa granted an interim court order preventing the airline from starting operations, following an application by rival carriers,[5] on the basis that it did not meet the legal requirement of 75% local ownership. Substantial restructuring of ownership took place and FlySafair's inaugural flight eventually took place on 16 October 2014.[1]

In 2017, the airline announced a partnership with the South African Rugby Union (SARU), making it the official domestic carrier for the Springboks and SA Rugby. The deal was extended for four years in February 2020.[6][7]

In October 2022, the airline went through a rebrand with redesigns to their logo and new livery.[8] The International Air Services Council of South Africa also approved 11 new international routes.[9][10]

Destinations[edit]

FlySafair serves the following 15 destinations :[11]

Country City Airport Notes
Mauritius Port Louis Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport
Mozambique Maputo Maputo International Airport
South Africa Bloemfontein Bram Fischer International Airport
Cape Town Cape Town International Airport Hub
Durban King Shaka International Airport Hub
East London King Phalo Airport
George George Airport
Mbombela Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
Gqeberha Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport
Johannesburg O. R. Tambo International Airport Hub
Lanseria International Airport
Tanzania Zanzibar Abeid Amani Karume International Airport
Zambia Livingstone Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport
Zimbabwe Harare Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport
Victoria Falls Victoria Falls Airport

Interline agreements[edit]

FlySafair interlines with the following airlines:

Fleet[edit]

FlySafair Boeing 737-400
FlySafair Boeing 737-800

As of July 2023, the FlySafair fleet consists of the following aircraft:[12]

FlySafair Fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Notes
Boeing 737-400 5 165
Boeing 737-800 28 1 189
Total 33 1

Services[edit]

In-flight service[edit]

FlySafair offers food and drinks as a buy-on-board programme, partnering up with Tourvest. FlySafair also offers a monthly magazine on board named In Flight. It was also the first airline in South Africa to offer card payments aboard their flights. On their international routes they offer a pre-packed meal at no charge, with other food and drink options for sale. For hygienic reasons, the In Flight magazine is currently only in digital format.

Accidents and incidents[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Ensor, Linda (17 October 2014). "FlySafair will bring needed competition". Business Day. Johannesburg. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  2. ^ "Home". flysafair.co.za.
  3. ^ Moores, Victoria (16 April 2014). "South African startup FlySafair secures license". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 17 April 2014.
  4. ^ "FlySafair - ch-aviation.com". Ch-aviation.ch. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  5. ^ "FlySafair grounded before first flight". Mg.co.za. 8 October 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  6. ^ "FlySafair Scores the Springboks". www.firstcarrental.co.za. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  7. ^ "FlySafair official domestic carrier for the Springboks". www.news24.com. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  8. ^ Bodell, Luke (1 October 2022). "FlySafair Reveals New Branding & Boeing 737 Livery". Simple Flying. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  9. ^ Smith, Compiled by Carin. "FlySafair adds 11 new destinations including Seychelles, Victoria Falls". Fin24. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  10. ^ Reporter, B. R. "First Air Belgium now FlySafair - South Africans have more options to fly". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  11. ^ "FlySafair - South Africa's True Low Cost Airline". www.FlySafair.co.za. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  12. ^ "FlySafair Fleet Details and History". www.planespotters.net. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  13. ^ Reporter, Citizen (12 November 2022). "FlySafair plane struck by SAA aircraft in parking accident at OR Tambo airport". The Citizen. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  14. ^ Head, Tom (13 November 2022). "SAA technician accused of 'sleeping' during OR Tambo collision". The South African. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  15. ^ "Newsroom - South African Airways". www.flysaa.com. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  16. ^ Hendry, Jonathan E. (12 November 2022). "FlySafair Boeing 737 Struck By SAA Airbus A320 After Tow Bar Broke". Simple Flying. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  17. ^ Mthethwa, Cebelihle. "FlySafair aircraft struck by wingtip of SAA Airbus at OR Tambo airport". News24. Retrieved 20 November 2022.

External links[edit]

Media related to FlySafair at Wikimedia Commons