UPDATED: New Flight Routes – AirAsia Adds Direct Route to Kenya

Travellers wanting to explore Africa’s top safari destinations can access several new flight route connections. International carriers Qantas and KLM are the latest to expand their connectivity to key destinations across the continent. Easier access between Africa’s cities adds to the appeal of planning safari itineraries across multiple countries instead of a single-country trip, as travellers can now pair different experiences with traditional safari itineraries. It also means reduced travel time, with more quality holiday time in destination. Take a look at this comprehensive list of the new flights and increased capacity, to help you plan your next African adventure.

New Routes and Codeshare Partnerships to Top Safari Destinations

Qantas Expands Capacity, Adds Airlink Codeshare – October 2024

Qantas has expanded its seating capacity on its Australia to South Africa tour, with the introduction of an Airbus A380 flight from Sydney to Johannesburg – its first superjumbo service between Australia and Africa. The A380 will operate up to six times per week, nearly doubling our capacity with an extra 130,000 seats between Australia and Africa each year. In addition, the airline has announced a new codeshare with regional South African regional airline Airlink. This now offers its passengers onward connectivity to nine gateways across South Africa, including Cape Town, Durban and Hoedspruit. The codeshare connections are available to book for travel from 27 October.

FlySafair Expands into Namibia – October 2024

FlySafair has announced the launch of its first regional route from Cape Town to Windhoek, Namibia, starting on October 22nd. Ticket prices start at R1,800*. The route, operating twice weekly on Tuesdays and Saturdays, is expected to boost travel between the two cities, particularly for those seeking affordable access to Namibia’s renowned natural attractions. This new route sees the airline now able to addresses growing demand, to this capital city of the Southern African destination, according to FlySafair spokesperson Kirby Gordan who states that typically, a ticket from Cape Town to Windhoek starts at R5 000 and can cost as much as R9 000 (about $500 @R18/$). READ: Africa’s First Quiet Park: How Namibia is Redefining Solitude-Driven Luxury Travel “We have been wanting to break into the Windhoek market for a while, but the barrier, until now, has been aircraft availability. Having an additional aircraft that we are basing in Cape Town is now enabling us to expand into the market with a competitive fare,” explains Gordon.

Norse Atlantic Adds New Direct Flight to Cape Town – October 2024

UK travellers now have more direct routes to Cape Town to choose from, with the launch of the Norse Atlantic Airways flight between Cape Town International Airport and London Gatwick Airport. The service will operate seasonally with three weekly flights, starting on 28 October. The flight will arrive in Cape Town at 09:30 (SAST) on a Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday before departing for London Gatwick (LGW) at 11:45 (SAST). Norse Atlantic Airways will operate the service on a Boeing 787-9. READ: The Best Time to Visit Botswana: A Seasonal Guide to the Okavango Delta

Air Botswana Expands its Route Network Across Southern Africa – November 2024

More travellers can take advantage of the beautiful safari destination of Botswana and combining it with a visit to some of Southern Africa’s top destinations, including Cape Town and Windhoek. Air Botswana is expanding its operations with new routes across Namibia and South Africa, enhancing connectivity in phases from September 1 to November 1, 2024. The new routes include flights between Gaborone and Durban (1 October), Gaborone and Windhoek (1 October), Maun and Cape Town (starting 1 November), Maun and Windhoek (starting 1 November), Kasane and Mpumalanga (starting 1 November), and Kasane and Cape Town (starting 1 November), each operating three times weekly. Air Botswana is also increasing frequencies on routes such as Gaborone to Cape Town, Harare, and Lusaka from November. Additionally, the airline is reinstating key routes suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, including Johannesburg to Maun (1 September), Kasane (1 September), and Francistown (15 September).

AirAsia Enters Partnership with Kenya, Launches Kuala Lumpur to Nairobi Route – November 2024

Asian medium-haul, low-cost carrier, AirAsia X (AAX) is set to launch a new direct route between Kuala Lumpur to Nairobi on 15 November 2024 with four weekly flights. This new route will create more accessible access to Kenya as an iconic safari destination. June Chepkemei, CEO of Kenya Tourism Board, said, “The Asia Pacific region is a key source market for Kenya. The region saw over 320,000 travellers into the country in 2023, with India, China and Japan among the top drivers of visitor arrivals. Our goal through this collaboration is to ensure that we have more tourists coming from Malaysia and other regional destinations to Kenya.” Benyamin Ismail, CEO of AirAsia X added, “This new route will play a crucial role in Kenya’s tourism growth and create new connections for travellers. For our other key routes such as Australia and China, Nairobi will now be easily accessible, offering new adventures in Africa and enhanced travel options via Kuala Lumpur. This route not only strengthens our global network but also supports the tourism goals of both Kenya and Malaysia.” Bookings are available now through 6 October 2024, for the travel period from 15 November 2024 until 30 June 2025.

SAA Opens New Route To Dar es Salaam – November 2024

South African Airways is now flying direct from Johannesburg, South Africa, to Dar es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania and the gateway to iconic destinations including Zanzibar and the Serengeti National Park. This direct, non-stop flight is available 10 times a week, and is a further move by the airline to cement its comeback and once again become a household name for intercontinental travel in Africa. This is a fantastic development for travellers who want to combine the magic of an iconic South African safari with either an island adventure in Zanzibar or an additional safari stop in the Serengeti.

KLM Increases Seasonal Connectivity to Cape Town – December 2024

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will increase its capacity to Cape Town with two additional flights per week on Tuesdays and Sundays – from 27 October 2024 to 30 March 2025 This takes the Dutch carriers offering to nine weekly flights into Cape Town for this period, providing even more flexibility and options for its passengers.

Delta Expands Service to Nigeria, Upgrades South Africa, Ghana Fleet – December 2024

Starting 1 December, Delta Airlines will revive its daily service from New York-JFK to Lagos, Nigeria, complementing its existing daily flights from Atlanta. This expansion will see Delta offer up to 14 weekly flights to Nigeria during early winter and maintain ten weekly flights for the remainder of the season. The New York-JFK to Lagos, Nigeria route will shift from a daily to three times per week on 16 January next year. Tourism between the U.S. and Africa will see improved service and flight connectivity from U.S. carrier Delta Airlines. The carrier announced plans to restart its service to Nigeria from New York-JFK, and fleet upgrades for its Ghana and South Africa service have been confirmed.

New Flight Routes Commencing in 2025

Airlink Adds DRC Route between Johannesburg and Kinshasa – March 2025

Southern Africa regional carrier Airlink is set to expand air services between South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo with the launch of a Johannesburg to Kinshasa flight from 28 March 2025. Airlink’s new service will operate three times a week, using a 98-seat Embraer E190 twin-engine aircraft. The airline also operates flights to Lubumbashi as part of its regional network. “Kinshasa is a regional heavyweight. Besides serving as the country’s political and economic capital, it is Africa’s most populous city with over seventeen million inhabitants. With Airlink’s combination of schedule, connections and great service, we expect to have a knock-out response,” said Airlink CEO and Managing Director Rodger Foster. Airlink flights are scheduled to provide convenient connections with its South African domestic and regional services as well as with long-haul flights through its global airline partnerships.

Safari Skies to Launch Cape Town to Madikwe Route – May 2025

Wish you could skip the Joburg layover when travelling from Cape Town to Madikwe? Private charter flights company, Safari Skies, has announced the launch of direct flights from Cape Town to the Madikwe Game Reserve. Set to begin in May 2025, this will make combining a Cape Town beach vacation with an African safari so much simpler. Located in the North West Province of South Africa, Madikwe is home to the Big Five as well as luxurious safari lodges and camps.

New Flight Routes added in 2024:

FlySafair Launches Joburg to Kruger Route – August 2024

FlySafair has launched a new route from OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) in Nelspruit, with twice-weekly services starting on August 2. Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) is situated just a 50-minute drive from Kruger National Park’s Numbi Gate and is also serviced by Airlink and Cemair. The introduction of FlySafair’s new route complements the existing direct flights to Kruger National Park from Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban, facilitating greater access to one of South Africa’s most beloved wildlife reserves.

Airlink reconnects Mozambique’s Vilanculos with SA’s Kruger – July 2024

In July, Airlink will return to its seasonal beach-and-bush route between South Africa’s Kruger National Park and Mozambique. The flight will link Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport with Vilanculos on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Ticket booking is live, with the seasonal route set to run until January 2025. The Panorama Route in Mpumalanga is a popular add-on to a Kruger safari. Highlights include God’s Window in the Blyde River Canyon, Bourke’s Luck Potholes in Graskop, and the Three Rondavels rock formation. Mozambique’s Vilanculos is the launchpad to the Bazaruto Archipelago, renowned for its spectacular beaches, marine life, and vibrant island lifestyle.

Ethiopia Airlines adds Botswana Connection – June 2024

Ethiopian Airlines will connect its capital city of Addis Ababa to Zambia’s Ndola and Botswana’s Maun starting 10 June. The flight will add three weekly connections on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Maun serves as a gateway to northern Botswana. Situated on the banks of the Thamalakane River in the Southeastern part of the Delta, it offers seamless connectivity for fly-in safaris from the airport to central parts of the Okavango Delta.

Qatar adds New Africa Gateway to DRC – June 2024

Qatar Airways has opened up a new gateway in Africa, connecting the DRC with Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The inaugural flight from Doha to Kinshasa landed at N’djili International Airport on 1 June, bringing the total number of African destinations served by the airline to 29. The four weekly services will also increase capacity to Angola, raising the number of flights to Luanda from one to four. The addition of Kinshasa also complements the airline’s over 170 weekly flights across Africa, emphasising Qatar Airways’ commitment to enhancing connectivity throughout the continent.

Lufthansa Ups Direct Flights to South Africa – June 2024

Lufthansa is set to launch a direct flight between Munich and Johannesburg, improving access for travellers wanting to visit South Africa. The increased direct flights to South Africa bodes well for European travellers looking to visit South Africa. Some 245,259 German travellers visited South Africa in 2023, showing 42% growth compared to 2022.

Proflight Zambia connects Lusaka and Cape Town – February 2024

Proflight Zambia launched a new direct route between South Africa’s Cape Town International and Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka in February. The thrice-weekly flights will operate on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. This connection suits travellers looking to maximise their safari bucket list experience with a visit to Cape Town’s world-class beaches and historically rich Cape Winelands. This year, Zambia is celebrating 60 years of independence, with visitors set for a rich showcase of its history and culture.

Virgin Atlantic and Kenya Airways improve connectivity to Kenya – March 2024

Connectivity between the UK and East Africa has been improved with the latest partnership between SkyTeam alliance partners Virgin Atlantic and Kenya Airways. Kenya is one of East Africa’s prime safari destinations. It is popular with North American and UK travellers who travel to the continent to experience the Great Wildebeest Migration between Tanzania and Kenya. The codeshare allows Virgin Atlantic customers to book flights directly on Kenya Airways’ route between London Heathrow and Nairobi. It simplifies travel to Kenya for international visitors, including those from the UK, who can now enter with online authorization instead of a traditional visa.

Federal Airlines to Connect Marakele and Madikwe Game Reserve – March 2024

South African charter flight provider Federal Airlines will introduce a new shuttle route connecting Marakele National Park to Madikwe Game Reserve. The route started operating on 23 March, with departure and landing times at Thabazimbi Airport for Marataba Luxury Lodges, part of MORE collections. Federal Air offers daily shuttles connecting South Africa’s most popular Big Five game reserves and luxury safari lodges, along with private charters direct to flight strips of luxury safari locations across Africa.

FlySafair connects Cape Town to Kruger – April 2024

South African low-cost carrier FlySafair will launch a new route between Cape Town International Airport and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport from 2 April. The flight will operate twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays. This connection also puts the popular appeal of Cape Town within reach of travellers to South Africa’s flagship national park, Kruger.

FlyNamibia Adds New Route Between Windhoek and Vic Falls – April 2024

FlyNamibia will operate new flights between Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako International Airport and Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe from 4 April. As an Airlink affiliate partner, this new scheduled flight will allow travelers to fly directly between Cape Town, central Namibia, Victoria Falls, and Kruger Park, all booked on a single ticket.

ASKY Airlines Expands its Network

The Togo-based airline, ASKY, is working to make regional travel on the continent more accessible with additional non-stop regional routes, which is great news for travellers wanting to have multi-destination African safaris. With the African travel market continuing to grow, ASKY is another airline that has decided to capitalise on this expansion. To accommodate the extra flights, the airline is adding its first Boeing 787s to its fleet in 2026. ASKY is also looking to add new destinations to their network in eastern and southern Africa, including Kigali, Rwanda; Zanzibar, Tanzania; and Lusaka, Zambia.

Air Traffic Recovery Across Africa

Passenger demand is a key driver for new route connections, adding to the availability of affordable flights, with air travel for African airlines inching towards 2019 pre-pandemic demand. International Air Transport Association (IATA) data shows that air travel for Africa rose 9.5% in December last year compared to December 2022. African destinations are seeing increased interest from international travellers, with independent travellers driving leisure flight route recovery in Central and West Africa, according to travel analytics firm ForwardKeys. Its air ticketing data painted a healthy picture for international arrivals in popular safari destinations towards the end of 2023, with double-digit growth for Tanzania (+15%), Rwanda (+15%), and Namibia (+10%). Connectivity to the continent is receiving a positive outlook, said Julia Simpson, President and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), who emphasized the growing desire for African destinations, noting that search trends reveal “an undeniable appetite for travel to destinations across Africa.”