Johannesburg, South Africa – 3 January 2025 – In a year marked by significant challenges in South African aviation, FlySafair has risen above the turbulence to be named the most on-time airline in the Middle East and Africa region in the 2024 Cirium On-Time Performance Review. With an impressive 93.82% of its flights arriving on schedule, the low-cost carrier has demonstrated resilience and operational excellence in the face of adversity, yet again putting South Africa on the map in international aviation.
Navigating a Challenging Landscape
The accolade comes during a period of upheaval in South Africa’s aviation sector, where persistent disruptions tested even the most established players. At the heart of these challenges were infrastructural challenges. The suspension of over 400 flight procedures following the failure of Air Traffic and Navigation Services to have then renewed, devastated national airline performance. Later in the year, that catastrophic fuel infrastructure crisis at OR Tambo International Airport, led to widespread delays across the industry.
FlySafair also faced regulatory scrutiny, with ambiguous regulations prompting inquiries into its ownership structure and compliance with aviation laws. At the same time, the airline weathered a coordinated campaign by competitors, who filed complaints with the Competition Commission and Air Services Licensing Council in efforts to curtail its growth, making spurious that the airline was selling seats too cheaply to drown them out, and that these efforts were somehow funded by a profit-ambivalent foreign investor.
Adding to the complexity were rising operational costs. Despite a slight reprieve in global oil prices, South African airlines grappled with high jet fuel prices, exacerbated by the country’s reliance on imports following the closure of local refineries.
A Year of Triumphs Amid Challenges
Despite these obstacles, FlySafair consistently excelled, earning the top on-time ranking for 11 out of 12 months in 2024. Its success can be attributed to strategic investments in advanced scheduling systems, data-driven decision-making, and fleet management practices designed to minimise disruptions and optimise reliability.
The airline also played a key role in democratising access to new markets by bringing their low cost service model onto routes that had traditionally only be contested by much higher priced network carriers. Flights between Johannesburg and Harare are now half of what they used to cost, and while an Airlink ticket from Cape Town to Kruger Mpumalanga Airport was previously about R7000 one way, you can now fly FlySafair from around R1800.
“2024 was a year of extraordinary challenges but also incredible triumphs for FlySafair,” said Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer. “Our team’s unwavering commitment to operational excellence and customer satisfaction ensured we didn’t just survive but thrived in one of the most demanding periods in South African aviation history.”
A Commitment to Excellence
While celebrating this milestone, FlySafair remains focused on continuous improvement and collaboration. The airline is actively working with regulatory bodies to address compliance concerns and establish clear pathways forward, all while maintaining seamless operations for its passengers.
Looking ahead, FlySafair aims to:
- Further enhance operational reliability.
- Expand connectivity to better serve South African travellers.
- Strengthen its position as the leader in affordability and punctuality.