FlySafairis an internationallow-cost airlinebased inJohannesburg,South Africa. It is a subsidiary ofSafairand flies to 14 destinations inSub-Saharan Africa.The company slogan isFor The Love Of Flying.

FlySafair
IATA ICAO Call sign
FA SFR SAFAIR
FoundedAugust 2013;11 years ago(2013-08)
Commenced operations16 October 2014;10 years ago(2014-10-16)[1]
Operating bases
Fleet size34
Destinations14
Parent companySafair Operations (Pty) Ltd
HeadquartersJohannesburg,South Africa
Key peopleElmar Conradie (CEO)
ProfitIncreaseR500 million
EmployeesIncrease1,300 (June 2022)[2][failed verification]
Websitewww.flysafair.co.za

History

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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'sO. R. Tambo International AirportandCape Town International Airport.[3]The airline had plans to begin operations in October 2013.[4]However, on 8 October 2013, theHigh Court of South Africagranted an interimcourt orderpreventing 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 theSpringboksandSA 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.[citation needed]The International Air Services Council of South Africa also approved 11 new international routes.[8][9]

Destinations

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FlySafair serves the following 14 destinations:[10]

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
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
Zimbabwe Harare Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport
Victoria Falls Victoria Falls Airport

Interline agreements

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FlySafairinterlineswith the following airlines:

Fleet

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FlySafairBoeing 737-400
FlySafairBoeing 737-800

As of August 2024,FlySafair operates the following aircraft:[11]

FlySafair fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Notes
Boeing 737-400 6 165
Boeing 737-800 28 2 189
Total 34 2

Services

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In-flight service

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FlySafair offers food and drinks as abuy-on-boardprogramme, partnering up with Tourvest. FlySafair also offers a monthly magazine on board namedIn 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, theIn Flightmagazine is currently only in digital format.

Accidents and incidents

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  • On 12 November 2022, aSouth African AirwaysAirbus A320(registered ZS-SZJ) was towed and collided with a parked FlySafairBoeing 737-800(registered ZS-SJH) atO. R. Tambo International Airport.[12][13]No passengers were onboard either aircraft at the time. The 737’sempennagesection and A320's wingtip were damaged.[14][15]Both aircraft were returned to service shortly after the incident.
  • On 21 April 2024, a FlySafairBoeing 737-800(registered ZS-FGE), operating flight FA212 fromJohannesburgtoCape Town,lost one of its left rear wheels on take-off. The aircraft burnt fuel after being made aware of the missing wheel, and made a low pass overO.R. Tambo International Airportfor 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.[16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abEnsor, Linda (17 October 2014)."FlySafair will bring needed competition".Business Day.Johannesburg. Archived fromthe originalon 20 October 2014.Retrieved11 January2015.
  2. ^"Home".flysafair.co.za.
  3. ^Moores, Victoria (16 April 2014)."South African startup FlySafair secures license".Air Transport World.Archived fromthe originalon 17 April 2014.
  4. ^"FlySafair - ch-aviation".Ch-aviation.ch.Retrieved23 April2014.
  5. ^"FlySafair grounded before first flight".Mg.co.za.8 October 2013.Retrieved23 April2014.
  6. ^"FlySafair Scores the Springboks".firstcarrental.co.za.Retrieved23 June2022.
  7. ^"FlySafair official domestic carrier for the Springboks".news24.Retrieved23 June2022.
  8. ^Smith, Compiled by Carin."FlySafair adds 11 new destinations including Seychelles, Victoria Falls".Fin24.Retrieved12 October2022.
  9. ^Reporter, B. R."First Air Belgium now FlySafair - South Africans have more options to fly".iol.co.za.Retrieved12 October2022.
  10. ^"FlySafair - South Africa's True Low Cost Airline".FlySafair.co.za.Retrieved21 October2017.
  11. ^"FlySafair Fleet Details and History".airfleets.net.Retrieved1 May2024.
  12. ^Reporter, Citizen (12 November 2022)."FlySafair plane struck by SAA aircraft in parking accident at OR Tambo airport".The Citizen.Retrieved20 November2022.
  13. ^Head, Tom (13 November 2022)."SAA technician accused of 'sleeping' during OR Tambo collision".The South African.Retrieved20 November2022.
  14. ^"Newsroom - South African Airways".flysaa.Retrieved20 November2022.
  15. ^Mthethwa, Cebelihle."FlySafair aircraft struck by wingtip of SAA Airbus at OR Tambo airport".News24.Retrieved20 November2022.
  16. ^"WATCH | Wheel damage during take-off forces FlySafair plane to make emergency landing in Johannesburg".TimesLIVE.21 April 2024.Retrieved11 October2024.
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