Safair

ICAO: SFR Active as of Dec 11, 2025

49

Active Routes

1705

Flight Observations

13

Unique Destinations

14

Origin Airports

650

Avg Route Distance (mi)

1908

Longest Route (mi)

5

Domestic Routes

44

International Routes

About Safair

Safair (ICAO: SFR) is a South African aviation company with a rich history in specialized aviation services, dating back to its founding as Tropair (Pty) Ltd in 1965. The company was acquired by Safmarine in 1970 and renamed Safair Freighters (Pty) Ltd, focusing on charter services, cargo operations, and specialized airlifts, including humanitarian aid and Antarctic logistics. In 2013, Safair established FlySafair as its low-cost passenger airline subsidiary, which commenced operations on October 16, 2014.

Safair is based at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park, South Africa. FlySafair's primary operating bases include Cape Town International, Durban, and Johannesburg. For its specialized operations, Safair also maintains additional base stations in Entebbe (Uganda), Bamako (Mali), Juba (South Sudan), and Mogadishu (Somalia).

The airline operates a diverse fleet. Safair, for its specialized services, maintains one of the world's largest fleets of civil Lockheed L-100 Hercules cargo aircraft, specifically 6 L100-30 Hercules. This part of the fleet also includes Boeing 737-400 Combi, Freighter, and passenger aircraft for leasing and charter services. FlySafair, its passenger arm, primarily operates a fleet of Boeing 737-400 and Boeing 737-800 aircraft, with a fleet size of 37 as of October 2025. FlySafair offers an extensive route network, focusing on high-frequency domestic routes within South Africa, connecting major cities such as Johannesburg (O.R. Tambo and Lanseria), Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, George, East London, Bloemfontein, Mbombela, and Hoedspruit. The airline has expanded its reach to regional and international destinations in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian Ocean, including Windhoek (Namibia), Harare and Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe), Livingstone (Zambia), Maputo (Mozambique), Zanzibar (Tanzania), and Mauritius. Safair and FlySafair are not members of any major global airline alliances like Star Alliance, SkyTeam, or Oneworld.

As a low-cost carrier, FlySafair provides various fare options: Lite Fare (includes a seat and 7kg carry-on), Standard Fare (adds 20kg checked luggage and two free changes), and Business Fare (offers two 23kg checked bags, special equipment, unlimited fee-free changes, priority boarding, a pre-reserved seat, and is fully refundable to a FlySafair wallet). Passengers can also purchase extra legroom seats or block an adjacent seat for additional space. On international routes, a pre-packed meal is offered free of charge, with other food and drink available for purchase through a buy-on-board program.

What Travelers Say

Traveler reviews for FlySafair present a mixed but generally positive picture, with strong praise for operational efficiency balanced against recurring complaints regarding customer service and certain policies.

What Travelers Love:

Punctuality: FlySafair is frequently commended for its excellent on-time performance, with many travelers highlighting it as "always on time." It has been recognized as the most on-time low-cost carrier globally by Cirium.
Friendly and professional crew: Many passengers report positive interactions with the cabin crew, describing them as friendly, polite, and professional.
Affordable fares: The airline is highly valued for its low fares and providing good value for money, making air travel accessible to more people.
Honesty and integrity: A notable positive experience involved the prompt and honest return of a lost mobile phone by the airline's ground and cabin staff.

Common Complaints:

Customer Service Issues: Numerous reviews express dissatisfaction with ground staff, describing them as unhelpful, dismissive, and lacking in effective communication, especially during flight disruptions.
Flight Delays and Cancellations: Travelers frequently report significant delays (sometimes several hours) and last-minute cancellations, often leading to missed connections and frustration due to insufficient information or inadequate compensation.
Baggage Policy and Charges: Complaints arise from confusion over baggage allowances and unexpected fees for checked luggage, particularly when purchasing at the airport.
Refund Policy: Several customers have experienced difficulties in obtaining full refunds for cancelled flights, with the airline sometimes offering only partial refunds even for situations like hospitalization.
Onboard Comfort/Features: Some reviews mention the absence of in-flight WiFi and charging ports, and occasional concerns about cabin cleanliness or uncomfortable seating on older aircraft, though typically acceptable for short-haul flights.
Boarding Process: Instances of disorganized boarding, with staff reportedly shouting flight numbers rather than using proper announcement systems, and issues with the priority boarding process.

Overall Sentiment Summary:

FlySafair is generally praised for its reliability and affordability, making it a popular choice for domestic and regional travel. However, the airline faces consistent criticism regarding its customer service, particularly concerning flight disruptions, baggage handling, and refund policies, which can significantly detract from the overall passenger experience.

Safety Information

Safair (including FlySafair) maintains a strong commitment to safety, adhering to stringent national and international aviation standards.

Recent safety record and any notable incidents:
On November 12, 2022, a South African Airways Airbus A320 collided with a parked FlySafair Boeing 737-800 at O.R. Tambo International Airport. No passengers were on board, and both aircraft were returned to service.
On April 21, 2024, a FlySafair Boeing 737-800 lost a main landing gear wheel during takeoff from Johannesburg. The aircraft landed safely with no injuries reported, though it caused airport delays.
In June 2023, an investigation raised questions about a serious incident involving FlySafair Flight 268 near King Shaka International Airport, where a Boeing 737 reportedly experienced an uncontrolled descent before pilots recovered it. Concerns were also highlighted regarding the timely reporting of this incident to the SA Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA).
Other reported incidents include a near-collision in August 2021, transponder failure and loss of cabin pressure in November 2020, a hydraulic leak in June 2021, a slat problem in March 2022, and incidents of cabin pressure loss in August 2025 and August 2019, as well as a pilot incapacitation in January 2025.

Regulatory certifications:
Safair and its subsidiary FlySafair hold full IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) accreditation, which is a globally recognized benchmark for operational safety. Their most recent audit in July 2023 was successfully passed.
The airline is not listed on the EU Air Safety List, meaning it is not banned from operating within European Union airspace due to safety concerns.
FlySafair's ownership structure has been under scrutiny by South African authorities, with rulings in December 2024 and January 2025 indicating non-compliance with the 75% local ownership requirement. The airline has been given 12 months to comply, and is considering shareholder adjustments or legal action.

Fleet age and maintenance reputation:
Safair's specialized fleet, including its Lockheed L-100 Hercules aircraft, has an average age of 25 years. FlySafair's passenger fleet consists of Boeing 737-400 and 737-800 aircraft.
Safair Operations states it operates its own line maintenance and Approved Maintenance Organization (AMO), ensuring a rigorous engineering and maintenance program for continuous and reliable operations of its fleet. The company emphasizes its renowned service record for safety and reliability.

Overall safety assessment based on available data:
FlySafair has an excellent 7/7 safety rating from Airline Ratings as of February 2024. This, combined with its IOSA accreditation, suggests a high standard of operational safety. Despite several reported incidents, none have resulted in fatalities, aligning with South Africa's overall strong commercial aviation safety record which has seen no fatal accidents since 1987.

Safety awards or recognitions:
FlySafair has received numerous accolades, including Aircraft Operator of the Year at the 2023 and 2025 SACAA Civil Aviation Industry Awards.
In December 2024, Cirium recognized FlySafair as the Most on-time airline in the Middle East and Africa, and in December 2023, as the Best On-Time Low-Cost Carrier Globally.
Skytrax certified FlySafair as a 3-Star Low-Cost Airline and awarded it Best Low-Cost Airline in Africa in June 2025.

Content generated by AI based on web research • Updated 2 weeks, 1 day ago

Route Network Map

Most Popular Routes

DUR → JNB

King Shaka International Airport → OR Tambo Int'l

297 miles

209 flights

B738

JNB → CPT

O.R. Tambo International Airport → Cape Town Int'l

791 miles

166 flights

B738

CPT → JNB

Cape Town International Airport → OR Tambo Int'l

791 miles

158 flights

B738

JNB → DUR

O.R. Tambo International Airport → King Shaka Int'l

297 miles

137 flights

B738

HLA → CPT

Lanseria International Airport → Cape Town Int'l

787 miles

91 flights

B738

DUR → CPT

King Shaka International Airport → Cape Town Int'l

794 miles

77 flights

B738

CPT → DUR

Cape Town International Airport → King Shaka Int'l

1041 miles

71 flights

B738

ELS → JNB

King Phalo Airport → OR Tambo Int'l

478 miles

70 flights

B738

CPT → HLA

Cape Town International Airport → Lanseria

1041 miles

69 flights

B738

JNB → GRJ

O.R. Tambo International Airport → George

647 miles

57 flights

B738

Top Destinations

JNB (FAOR)

OR Tambo Int'l

Johannesburg

553 flights

10 routes

CPT (FACT)

Cape Town Int'l

Cape Town

437 flights

10 routes

DUR (FALE)

King Shaka Int'l

Durban

293 flights

5 routes

HLA (FALA)

Lanseria

137 flights

5 routes

PLZ (FAPE)

Port Elizabeth

86 flights

4 routes

ELS (FAEL)

East London

77 flights

4 routes

GRJ (FAGG)

George

72 flights

3 routes

BFN (FABL)

Bloemfontein

32 flights

2 routes

MQP (FAKN)

Kruger Mpumalanga Int'l

Nelspruit (Kruger National Park)

6 flights

2 routes

HRE (FVRG)

Harare International

Harare

4 flights

1 route

Top Origin Airports

JNB (FAOR)

O.R. Tambo International Airport

Johannesburg

452 flights

9 routes

CPT (FACT)

Cape Town International Airport

Cape Town

395 flights

10 routes

DUR (FALE)

King Shaka International Airport

Durban

361 flights

5 routes

HLA (FALA)

Lanseria International Airport

Johannesburg

167 flights

5 routes

ELS (FAEL)

King Phalo Airport

East London

130 flights

4 routes

PLZ (FAPE)

Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport

Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)

76 flights

4 routes

MRU (FIMP)

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport

Plaine Magnien

38 flights

1 route

BFN (FABL)

Bram Fischer International Airport

Bloemfontain

25 flights

2 routes

WDH (FYWH)

Hosea Kutako International Airport

Windhoek

18 flights

1 route

GRJ (FAGG)

George Airport

George

17 flights

3 routes

Top Border Crossing Flights

JNB (FAOR)

O.R. Tambo International Airport

Johannesburg, ZA

553 flights

10 routes

CPT (FACT)

Cape Town International Airport

Cape Town, ZA

437 flights

10 routes

Longest Routes

MRU → JNB

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport → OR Tambo Int'l

1908 mi

ZNZ → JNB

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport → OR Tambo Int'l

1557 mi

JNB → ZNZ

O.R. Tambo International Airport → Zanzibar

1557 mi

CPT → WDH

Cape Town International Airport → Windhoek Hosea Kutako Int'l

1083 mi

CPT → HLA

Cape Town International Airport → Lanseria

1041 mi

Shortest Routes

JNB → MQP

O.R. Tambo International Airport → Kruger Mpumalanga Int'l

186 mi

MQP → JNB

Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport → OR Tambo Int'l

186 mi

GRJ → CPT

George Airport → Cape Town Int'l

217 mi

CPT → GRJ

Cape Town International Airport → George

217 mi

BFN → JNB

Bram Fischer International Airport → OR Tambo Int'l

236 mi

All Routes

49 Total Routes

Showing 25 most popular routes

Route	Destination	Flights	Distance	Aircraft	Last Seen
DUR → JNB King Shaka International Airport	OR Tambo Int'l Johannesburg	209	297 mi	B738	Dec 10, 2025
JNB → CPT O.R. Tambo International Airport	Cape Town Int'l Cape Town	166	791 mi	B738	Dec 11, 2025
CPT → JNB Cape Town International Airport	OR Tambo Int'l Johannesburg	158	791 mi	B738	Oct 18, 2025
JNB → DUR O.R. Tambo International Airport	King Shaka Int'l Durban	137	297 mi	B738	Dec 11, 2025
HLA → CPT Lanseria International Airport	Cape Town Int'l Cape Town	91	787 mi	B738	Dec 9, 2025
DUR → CPT King Shaka International Airport	Cape Town Int'l Cape Town	77	794 mi	B738	Dec 10, 2025
CPT → DUR Cape Town International Airport	King Shaka Int'l Durban	71	1041 mi	B738	Nov 6, 2025
ELS → JNB King Phalo Airport	OR Tambo Int'l Johannesburg	70	478 mi	B738	Dec 9, 2025
CPT → HLA Cape Town International Airport	Lanseria Lanseria	69	1041 mi	B738	Nov 6, 2025
JNB → GRJ O.R. Tambo International Airport	George George	57	647 mi	B738	Dec 11, 2025
DUR → HLA King Shaka International Airport	Lanseria Lanseria	56	320 mi	B738	Dec 10, 2025
HLA → DUR Lanseria International Airport	King Shaka Int'l Durban	56	320 mi	B738	Dec 9, 2025
JNB → PLZ O.R. Tambo International Airport	Port Elizabeth Port Elizabeth	49	565 mi	B738	Dec 11, 2025
CPT → ELS Cape Town International Airport	East London East London	42	791 mi	B738	Nov 6, 2025
ELS → CPT King Phalo Airport	Cape Town Int'l Cape Town	38	536 mi	B738	Dec 9, 2025
MRU → JNB Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport	OR Tambo Int'l Johannesburg	38	1908 mi	B738	Dec 9, 2025
PLZ → JNB Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport	OR Tambo Int'l Johannesburg	37	565 mi	B738	Dec 11, 2025
JNB → ELS O.R. Tambo International Airport	East London East London	25	478 mi	B738	Dec 8, 2025
CPT → BFN Cape Town International Airport	Bloemfontein Bloemfontein	25	791 mi	B738	Nov 6, 2025
PLZ → CPT Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport	Cape Town Int'l Cape Town	24	402 mi	B738	Dec 11, 2025
CPT → PLZ Cape Town International Airport	Port Elizabeth Port Elizabeth	22	402 mi	B738	Oct 14, 2025
WDH → CPT Hosea Kutako International Airport	Cape Town Int'l Cape Town	18	797 mi	B738	Dec 9, 2025
ELS → DUR King Phalo Airport	King Shaka Int'l Durban	16	306 mi	B738	Dec 9, 2025
HLA → GRJ Lanseria International Airport	George George	14	649 mi	B738	Dec 9, 2025
BFN → CPT Bram Fischer International Airport	Cape Town Int'l Cape Town	13	565 mi	B738	Nov 28, 2025

Showing 25 of 49 routes. Routes sorted by flight frequency and activity.

Data Information:

Airline statistics are based on flight route observations collected from FlightAware AeroAPI and other sources. Flight counts represent observed operations, not scheduled frequencies. Route data is continuously updated as new flight information becomes available.

Data Freshness: Real-time
Last Update: Dec 11, 2025 06:09
Coverage: Observed routes only