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.