# FlySafair

FlySafair is an international low-cost airline based in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is a subsidiary of Safair and flies to 14 destinations in Sub-Saharan Africa. The company slogan is For The Love Of Flying.

## History

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 O. R. Tambo International Airport and Cape Town International Airport. The airline had plans to begin operations in October 2013. 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, 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.
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.
In October 2022, the airline went through a rebrand with redesigns to their logo and new livery. The International Air Services Council of South Africa also approved 11 new international routes.

## Destinations

FlySafair serves the following 14 destinations :
| Country | City | Airport | Notes |
| Mauritius | Port Louis | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport | |
| Namibia | Windhoek | Hosea Kutako International Airport | |
| South Africa | Bloemfontein | Bram Fischer International Airport | |
| South Africa | Cape Town | Cape Town International Airport | Hub |
| South Africa | Durban | King Shaka International Airport | Hub |
| South Africa | East London | King Phalo Airport | |
| South Africa | George | George Airport | |
| South Africa | Mbombela | Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport | |
| South Africa | Gqeberha | Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport | |
| South Africa | Johannesburg | O. R. Tambo International Airport | Hub |
| South Africa | Johannesburg | Lanseria International Airport | |
| Tanzania | Zanzibar | Abeid Amani Karume International Airport | |
| Zimbabwe | Harare | Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport | |
| Zimbabwe | Victoria Falls | Victoria Falls Airport | |

### Interline agreements

FlySafair interlines with the following airlines:
* Air France
* KLM
* Qatar Airways
* Emirates
* Kenya Airways
* Ethiopian Airlines
* Norse Atlantic Airways
* Proflight Zambia

## Fleet

As of December 2024, FlySafair operates the following aircraft:
FlySafair fleet :
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers |
| Boeing 737-400 | 4 | — | 165 |
| Boeing 737-800 | 29 | 1 | 189 |
| Total | 33 | 1 | — |

## Services
### In-flight service

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

* On 12 November 2022, a South African Airways Airbus A320 (registered ZS-SZJ) was towed and collided with a parked FlySafair Boeing 737-800 (registered ZS-SJH) at O. R. Tambo International Airport. No passengers were onboard either aircraft at the time. The 737’s empennage section and A320's wingtip were damaged. Both aircraft were returned to service shortly after the incident.
* On 21 April 2024, a FlySafair Boeing 737-800 (registered ZS-FGE), operating flight FA212 from Johannesburg to Cape Town, lost one of its left main landing gear, #2 wheel on take-off. The aircraft burnt fuel after being made aware of the missing wheel, and made a low pass over O.R. Tambo International Airport for emergency services to assess damage. The wheel affected was one of the two attached to the left rear landing strut. Unfortunately, the landing resulted in further damage to the rim of the remaining wheel assembly. There were no injuries reported among the passengers or crew on board, but the incident did cause delays at the airport as crews worked to clear the runway.

## Aviation licence

In November 2024, the South African International Air Services Council investigation found that ASL Aviation Holdings, based in Ireland, owns 74.86% of FlySafair through an investment holding company. This is in contravention of local laws, which require a minimum of 75% local shareholding. In December 2024, South Africa's domestic authority ruled the same. Sanction has yet to be determined.