FlySafair announces flight prices to Zimbabwe

SOUTH African low-cost airline, FlySafair has released its prices for the Harare and Victoria Falls flights, which are far cheaper than those of other operators.

For the Johannesburg to Harare flight, the budget airline will charge the equivalent of US$53, while for the Johannesburg to Victoria Falls flight, it will charge about US$74.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) granted FlySafair and CemAir, another South African low-cost carrier, licences to begin flying passenger and cargo flights in and outbound Harare and Victoria Falls.

In a statement sent to NewsDay Business, FlySafair said the Johannesburg to Harare flight route would commence on October 2, while the Johannesburg to Victoria Falls route would start the next day.

"The first batch of new routes will be launched on October 2, 2023 and are between Johannesburg and Harare and Johannesburg and Livingstone. The Harare flights will operate daily with prices starting at R1 000 (US$53)," FlySafair said.

"Flights between Johannesburg and Livingstone are scheduled four times weekly on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday with tickets starting at R2 000 (US$105). The next batch of routes will take off on October 3 and 5, 2023."

FlySafair added: "Respectively, these include Johannesburg to Victoria Falls which will operate three times per week with tickets starting at R1 400 (US$74), and Johannesburg to Maputo which will operate four times per week with tickets from R1 400."

Bookings for all new routes opened on August 3, 2023.

Currently, fastjet dominates the Johannesburg to Harare and Johannesburg to Victoria Falls flight routes.

The carrier operates the Harare to Johannesburg flight route at US$135, Bulawayo to Johannesburg (US$145) and Victoria Falls to Johannesburg (US$130).

CAAZ said it had licensed FlySafair and CemAir to offer passengers fare savings, increased connectivity and frequency of travelling since there is a large diaspora population in South Africa.

Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, in Harare, is currently undergoing a major upgrade to accommodate more flights.

The upgrade was financed from a China Exim Bank loan.

"FlySafair has undergone a period of rapid growth, increasing the number of flights they operate by 47% between 2019 and 2022. This number is set to increase even further as the airline continues to add new aircraft, routes and frequencies throughout 2023," FlySafair said.

"To accommodate this growth, FlySafair has also increased hiring, adding new staff to help maintain the airline's award-winning customer service in the face of increased operations."

FlySafair chief marketing officer Kirby Gordon said plans for its new routes had been in the pipeline for several months, adding that the airline was happy to offer low fares as well as on time services.

"We hope to help play our part in growing the tourism industry both at home and abroad by connecting people through our passion for aviation," he said.

He said despite the firm's rapid growth, the airline had managed to maintain its customer focus with hassle-free travel and on-time performance remaining a priority.

"This is something our entire team is determined to continue as we navigate the new challenges that come with new routes," Gordon said.